Networking with people you’ve never met isn’t as easy as it sounds. We’ve all been at a networking event and felt overwhelmed looking at everyone and thinking, “how am I going to approach someone and what am I even going to say to them?”.When you first start networking, this is kind of what it looks like. Anxiety, nervousness and stress are common emotions that our brains are flooded with. But one thing we have to remember is, everyone is here to do the same thing – network and meet new people.
With Newcomer’s Collision 2.0 around the corner, we thought it would be a good idea to compile a list of tips to help you embrace discomfort and make the best out of networking.
1. Do your research: Before the event, try to see if you can find out who’s going and if any key individuals are attending, like the vice-president of a PR firm is attending. If there’s a panel discussion or guest speakers, do your research on them so you can ask specific questions to get deeper insights.
2. Create a checklist: Before you go to a networking event, make sure you create a checklist of things you want to accomplish. Whether it’s making 10 new LinkedIn connections or talking to a thought leader you know is going to attend the event.
3. Don’t be afraid to approach a group: If you see a group of people discussing something, your first instinct is to think that you’d be interrupting their talk if you approach them. Instead of backing off, go head on and say, “Hey, sorry to interrupt the conversation, but I’m ___, and I just wanted to introduce myself and hope to be part of the discussion”. This is an easy segue to make yourself a part of a group and get to know more people in one go.
4. Introduce yourself: This goes without saying. Prepare a quick elevator pitch detailing your journey and the projects you’ve worked on so far.
5. Open-ended conversations: Try to have more open-ended conversations instead of just saying a yes or a no or just giving one word answers. Try to keep the conversation going so that it doesn’t become awkward for both you and the person you’re talking to. It also shows that you’re interested in talking to them and stimulates a more genuine connection and deeper conversations.
6. Value addition: When you introduce yourself, don’t just tell people what you’ve done so far. It is also important to show them the value you bring to the table. If you’ve worked on a project, also tell them about your contributions and how you’ve helped. It could be your creative vision or even just how your organisation skills helped the team stay on track.
7. Get to know people better: Try to get to know people you talk to more than just from a professional perspective. Ask them their likes and interests. Ask them if they like sports, if they like hiking, if they play any instruments. You never know, you may both share common interests which can help you connect on a personal level. This will also make it more likely to remember you after the event. Don’t forget to stay in touch!
8. Follow up: Don’t forget to follow-up on LinkedIn with people you meet at the event. Tell them it was a pleasure speaking with them and that you look forward to keeping in touch. Also mention any specific moments from your conversation to add a personal touch.
9. Keep in touch: The world of networking can be cruel sometimes. People tend to forget you quickly. To ensure lasting relationships, make sure you stay in touch. Send them a post on LinkedIn that may relate to industry news that you both have in common, or personally congratulate them on their achievements. Not staying in touch is probably the easiest way to undo all your networking efforts.
10 . Collaborations: A good way to take a professional relationship forward is to see if you can help the other person with something. Ask if they’re working on any projects and if they need help with anything. Volunteer to help them edit a video, proofread an article they’re working on, helping them get a second opinion, the works. Doesn’t hurt to offer!
