Natalie Lund is an account govt at Technique Communications.
After years of pandemic-driven cancellations, in-person networking occasions are again and also you don’t must be looking for a brand new job to attend one. With the appropriate strategy, there’s potential to satisfy a brand new consumer or future colleague, or construct a reporter connection. The following tips ought to improve your probabilities of making all of these connections, even when it’s your first in-person networking occasion.
Earlier than the occasion
Earlier than heading out, there are some things you are able to do to arrange and ease any nerves you could have. If you happen to’re occurring behalf of a consumer, put together a 2-3 sentence elevator pitch for each the consumer and your self. Reporters will typically host joyful hour occasions to satisfy potential sources or find out about an business panorama in a specific metropolis so that you’ll solely have a brief window of time to pitch a consumer and your self.
If the occasion has a particular theme or is concentrated on a specific business, spend a while studying up on the newest information, which is able to come in useful throughout any lulls within the dialog.
Additionally, come ready with two to 3 inquiries to ask. I’ve discovered that asking, “How did you study concerning the occasion?” tends to be an excellent opener and might result in conversations about their background and expertise.
Lastly, set a aim for your self. Perhaps it’s to introduce your self to 3 new individuals and join with them on LinkedIn. Perhaps it’s to confidently get by means of one dialog with a stranger. No matter it might be, having a aim in thoughts may also help encourage you for fulfillment.
Through the occasion
Not like a job interview, networking occasions are presupposed to be enjoyable and straightforward going. I keep in mind my first networking occasion, which was centered on sustainability and hosted by a Bloomberg reporter, and being so nervous that I needed to be an knowledgeable in local weather change coverage and different business developments. In fact, the conversations ended up being a mix of business information and informal matters, like what everybody’s favourite grocery retailer was. So do not forget that it’s OK to make informal non-work associated dialog, so long as you retain it skilled on the identical time.
Whenever you first arrive, the variety of individuals might really feel overwhelming, so I like to recommend shifting round to maximise the variety of individuals you may meet. When there’s a lull within the dialog, don’t be afraid to say “I’m going to get one other drink or snack,” or “I’m going to go mingle some extra, it was nice to satisfy you” earlier than politely excusing your self and discovering new individuals to satisfy.
If you happen to felt the dialog went effectively, don’t be afraid to ask for somebody’s enterprise card or add them on LinkedIn. It’s anticipated and precisely why individuals attend networking occasions, and the worst case situation is that they don’t add you again.
Lastly, as somebody nonetheless earlier in your profession, it’s simple to get imposter syndrome. I keep in mind being in my head, questioning if I had been deserving of being there speaking to those senior PR and comms professionals. Keep in mind that you’re deserving and folks do wish to speak to you as a result of you’re the way forward for PR and completely carry one thing to the desk.
After the occasion
An important a part of networking is just not the occasion itself however the comply with up afterwards.
For any enterprise playing cards or connections you make on LinkedIn, attain out once more. One message I’ve despatched earlier than is, “Hello X, nice assembly you at this occasion [insert networking event name]. I stay up for being related and hope to see you at future occasions!” If there’s something particularly you mentioned throughout your dialog, be at liberty to personalize as you’ll a pitch earlier than sending. You by no means know when connections you make at a networking occasion will come again that can assist you sooner or later.
If your organization despatched you or a supervisor requested you to attend, be ready to offer a recap. It must be a brief abstract of the individuals you related with and any potential results in act on. It’ll present your group that you just had been engaged and so they’ll hold you in thoughts for future occasions.
Keep in mind: observe makes good in terms of networking. It’ll get simpler so don’t put an excessive amount of stress on your self in your first occasion.
Lastly, have enjoyable! It may be arduous to satisfy individuals outdoors of labor so take pleasure in a free drink, meet some new individuals and simply be your self.
