Ever feel as if
networking events are just a waste of time? If so, it may be time for you to do a little more planning
so that you can maximize the benefit of next networking event. Here are a few
tips on how you can get the most out of networking events:
- Do
your research beforehand and try to find out who will attend the event before
you arrive. Oftentimes, event
organizers have compiled a list of attendees. If you ask for it they may just
be willing to share.
- Once
you receive your list of attendees choose a few names/companies that may be of
interest to you. Do your research on them beforehand and find out how they
would benefit from connecting with you.
- Even
if you don’t receive a list of attendees, take the time to scope out the
room. In other words, find out who
is there before you allow one or two attendees to occupy all of your time. It may help to decide what your purpose
is before you attend the event. Do
you want to meet knew clients or prospective job candidates? What type of
employer/job candidate are you looking for? All of these factors will come into play when deciding who
to target when attending the event.
- Remember,
less is sometimes more. If you
only have two hours to attend your next networking event, you may want to limit
how many people you talk to. Think about it, if you had four conversations that
lasted ten minutes, that would take up 40 minutes, and that’s without any
breaks in between. Using targeted networking will help you maximize the
benefits of the event. Choose a few prospects, then spend the bulk of your time
connecting with them.
- Make
your way to the front of the room.
Does the networking event offer an opportunity to speak or conduct a
workshop? If so, send in a
proposal. Speaking or doing a
workshop can give you quick and easy access to the people you want to meet.