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My first day in Sweden was truly a kick start! I rushed to the International Citizen Hub Lund for the first meeting of the Kick-Start program straight from the airport, making it just in time for the first fika.

Putting network theory into practice

During my graduate studies in London, I spent considerable time reading and exploring network theory, as well as looking at the letter networks of famous historical people. One of the most important things I learned from my study of networks was never to underestimate the power of second- and third-hand connections, as LinkedIn parlance would have it.

Although it is good to know the theory, it is useless until put into practice. I felt so unsure about what to do with my academic experience in a new country, especially as my field of research is more localised. I had already moved countries once, and the academic transition proved to be challenging. However, as I soon found out from my personal experience and was regularly reminded by the Kick Start program, the key to overcoming these challenges was networking.

Fresh off the academic treadmill, a week before moving to Malmö, I went back home to Vilnius to present a paper at an international conference. Not only was this a wonderful opportunity to talk about my research to a room of academics from related fields, but also to chat with them less formally. Having shared about my upcoming move to Sweden, I immediately received many invaluable tips and contacts, as well as an invitation to participate in another conference, this time in Uppsala. In a few weeks, having just moved to Skåne, I was on a train piercing through the dales of Uppland, and I could hardly believe my good luck, as well as the fact that all it took was a general conversation about my plans and interests. The Uppsala conference was closely related to my academic interests. It also provided me with an understanding of the resources of the Swedish libraries and archives, essential for any future research here. However, what I appreciate the most is the opportunity to connect to the community of historians and the sense of belonging it provided me. Ultimately, it also landed me an internship opportunity as an editorial assistant in the publication of a scholarly volume of conference papers, which, in turn, linked me with an even wider network of academics working in the field!

Relish your story

I like to think of networking as a series of fairy-tale quests, which at first glance always seem unconquerable. As a rule, the protagonist of a story meets other characters along the way – always in the right place and at the right time – who help him or her tackle these impossible challenges. Although building a network of connections in a new place may seem daunting at first, it is a manageable task if you are willing to take one step at a time and to embrace the help and advice that comes along the way. In that regard, the community at the ÄÛ²ÝÓ°Ôº was an immeasurable help, without which this process would have undoubtedly proven much less fairy-tale-like. Also, to draw on the lessons of network theory, relying on more distant connections can link the pre-existing networks to our new one.

Finally, I have not found the perfect job or a clear career path yet, but the experiences of my first month in Sweden fill me with hope and excitement for my next chapter here. And, I must admit, sometimes I relish the uncertainty – after all, the interesting part of every story is the journey, not the destination.

/Emilija Jovaisaite-Martisauskiene

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