The end of the holiday season means the start of networking event season. Networking is essential to jump-starting your career resolutions, but make sure to set the right expectations prior to attending an event. Don’t go in expecting to obtain a job, internship, or mentor right away. Instead plan to give more than you receive and offer your expertise as a way to build relationships with people who work in your desired field as well as fellow attendees. Check out this rundown of strategies to implement before, during and after a networking event to make it the most worthwhile for you. Before Prepare Questions Think of each of your interactions at a networking event as a conversation rather than a formal interview for a position. Prepare five or six thoughtful and open ended questions that will help you learn something unique about each person you talk to. If you could bring any three people to dinner, who would they be and why? Who are your three heroes and why? You could also ask about hobbies or favorite things or make other small talk such as where they’re from to help break the ice. Make sure you can answer the questions you prepare for others about yourself so you can open up the possibility of finding common ground. As human beings we are all more alike than we are different, so finding things in common can always be a great way to build rapport with a stranger and ease nerves before diving into the aspects of their work or company. Research Companies and Individuals That Will Be Attending Most organizations will list individuals and companies who will be available for attendees to speak with during a networking event. Look up information on companies and individuals on LinkedIn, Google, or other social media platforms and search engines. Become familiar with projects they are working on or the direction in which they’re heading. The more specific talking points you can come up with prior to your initial introduction, the more professional and motivated you will appear. Bring Copies of Your Resume Put copies of your resume in a neat folder to bring with you to the event, but only give it out if asked. Some employers or recruiters at the event may even be willing to critique your resume for you or evaluate it based on job requirements for positions within in their company, but again, let that offer come to you and don’t request it for yourself. During Introduce Yourself Using Your Full Name This is an important habit to get into when meeting people in a professional setting. It may seem obvious, but saying your first and last name will make you appear more mature and confident, even if it’s already on that awkward sticky name tag you were given to put on your formal attire. Employers and recruiters will meet with hundreds or even thousands of people over the course of an event, so stating your last name off the bat could make for a more memorable first impression. Your last name could also prompt a discussion of your heritage or ancestry and there you have it, another icebreaker.
Listen More Than You Speak You’re going to have so many questions, ideas and other talking points ready to go prior to the event that you will want to share them with everyone all at once. But to make your networking worthwhile, you’ll have to listen to learn instead of to reply. The more you and the other person can make each other feel heard and respected, the better the conversation will go. Some of your questions may also be answered in a time, place, or manner that you did not expect and you want to avoid having someone repeat themselves in a response if you can help it. Brush Up on Your Non-Verbal Communication Active listening requires non-verbal communication and other cues to show that you are still present and engaged in the conversation. A firm handshake and sustained eye contact go a long way in an introduction. If someone is talking for what seems like awhile, smile and nod every so often to show that you are processing their words, ideas and responses. Also make sure to maintain good posture and stand or sit depending on how the other person is positioned. Take Notes For each business card you receive, write down some key words or thoughts on the back to help remember the main points of your discussion with that individual. It could be a joke they made that made you laugh, a hobby you found in common, or a description of their role within their organization. You can do this following each interaction if you’re afraid you will forget names or other details, or on every card right before leaving the event. After Follow Up to Keep the Conversation Going After the event, wait one or two days and follow up with brief and proactive communication. Bring up key points or share an idea or recent news article related to the person’s field or work. Email is your best bet for initial contact, but LinkedIn can also be a valuable resource. If you want to connect on LinkedIn with someone you met, make sure you fill out the request completely and add a personal note. Mentioning what you gained from the interaction in the personal note will make the other person more receptive to your invitation to connect. Be patient after you send your initial message. If you don’t hear back within a week, follow up one more time to let them know your interest in staying in touch and stop there. Following up more frequently than that can seem persistent, but will most likely irritate the other person. Toss Some Business Cards In the end, it’s probably more beneficial to keep in touch with a few people you spoke to and really connected with instead of trying to stay in contact with every single person you met at the event. Look at your notes to determine the most meaningful conversations you had and decide who already held positions or were at companies that most closely aligned with your interests or passions. You will probably get rid of more business cards than you keep, but doing so will help narrow down your search for a possible mentor or reference further down the line. Look at it this way: would you rather have one quarter or 25 pennies? Look For Occasions to Reach Out Again Accepting a job offer, beginning an internship or switching degree programs or schools are all appropriate times to keep in touch with your new contacts. Call it old fashioned if you want, but a holiday greeting or simple note of gratitude can be a great way to check in and add a personal touch. Don’t be afraid to share relevant news articles that may pertain to someone’s field or company projects either. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating and most definitely makes you vulnerable, but confidence will stem from preparation and practicing these strategies at multiple networking events. Go in with expectations of beginning new relationships and building them over time and you will be on your way to achieving your career goals. Also remember to use the Marist College Alumni Career Network for assistance. Members of the Alumni Career Network have agreed to assist Marist students and alumni with the job search process, give feedback on resumes, provide advice as to where to search for openings, give suggestions on how you can become successful in careers similar to their own, and much more. This database is limited to Marist community members with valid Marist accounts.
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