Depending on your personality, networking events can inspire a wide range of emotions. For better or for worse, they are a necessary part of the profession to help build your book of business and create connections that might be helpful for your career. Here are some tips and tricks that we have complied over the years to help you maximize your experience at networking events and hopefully make it more enjoyable:
- Smile! People gravitate towards happiness and it makes you more approachable.
- Don't go to networking events only for the food. Swarming the serving staff for eats undermines why you are there. Go easy on the alcohol as well!
- Be sure to ask the person you are talking to questions and avoid talking only about yourself.
- If you are at an event to make new connections, please don't only talk to your friends.
- When approaching groups try to match or slightly exceed the energy level of the group to make sure you do not come in over eager.
- Be cognizant of equity, diversity and inclusion when talking with individuals and in group settings.
- Talk to everyone and don't just talk with only the partners or keynote speaker in the room.
- At the same time, you do not have to try and talk to everyone in the room. Focus on the person you are speaking with to build rapport. Trying to do too much makes it difficult to build a genuine connection, especially if the person you are speaking to feels that you want to leave the conversation.
- If you need a conversation starter ask people what they enjoy doing in their spare time or inquire if they have any future vacation plans. Not discussing work helps people think about what brings them joy in their down time and will help you make a connection on a deeper level.
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