By: Joanie Wood
Networking is the process of building relationships and connections with individuals. It is commonly used as a tactic for professional advancement and can occur at formal events, such as business conferences, or at informal locations like company Christmas parties. These discussions are often utilized to make beneficial connections and can be leveraged into receiving internships, advice, or job opportunities from that acquaintance.
Since the nature of networking is for professional gain, it is very common to feel uneasy about starting these conversations or reaching out to that individual afterwards for opportunities. However, with practice and professionalism, I firmly believe that anyone can learn how to network effectively. Below are some tips to ensure your next networking experience is a positive one.
#1. Have a small backstory prepared
Networking often begins similarly to an interview, with one individual asking the other to talk a little about themselves. It is beneficial to have a 30-90 second biographical blurb prepared that briefly discusses where you’re from, your educational background, and your professional interests. This blurb should have enough content so they may inquire further, but it should not be so dense that you are expositing information for a lengthy period of time. Be sure to inquire about the other individual’s background as well, and draw connections between shared professional or personal interests.
#2. Make sure to mingle with those you don’t know
Even at networking-specific events, it can be comfortable to socialize with those you’re already acquainted with. It can be helpful to set a goal for yourself to speak with a designated number of people throughout the event. View each conversation as an opportunity to interact with someone new, expand your perception of the world, and develop a potential connection. There is no optimal length for networking conversations, so strive to enjoy your discussions.
#3. You have the power to end the conversation whenever you choose
If you are networking for professional gain (and even if you’re not), it’s completely acceptable to leave a conversation gracefully. People oftentimes feel that it would be rude to quit conversing with an individual, and though you should avoid abrupt departures, there are ways to tactfully and politely conclude a discussion. For instance, you may recognize that you and the other person are on two opposite sides of the occupational spectrum and deem that your time may be better spent elsewhere. When you see an opportunity in the discussion to do so, mention that you see someone you plan to speak with, thank that individual for speaking with you, shake their hand, and depart with an encouraging statement or well-wish. In doing so, you are respecting their time as well as your own.
#4. Implement a system to remember who you meet at these events
Particularly at networking events, most individuals will arrive with some sort of readily available contact information or will freely give it out after your conversation. Even if you do not plan to reach out to that person for future professional insight, it can be important to keep their contact information. I suggest creating an Excel spreadsheet to organize this information. I currently have a sheet that I use to log an individual’s name, contact information, where I met them, and any professional/educational information that may be pertinent to us intermingling in the future. Other approaches could be filing business cards from the individuals who hand them out or, if you get into the habit of sending follow-up emails after networking discussions, placing those emails into a folder for future reference. You never know what turns your occupational journey may take, so keeping the information of everyone you speak with can diversify your connections.
Above all, remember that networking is a conversation and there is no one correct way to approach it. Some individuals enter conversations with the intention of creating a professional connection. Others see where it flows naturally before articulating their aspirations. Through practice and genuine conversation, you will develop your own approach to these encounters and hopefully enjoy them.
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