How to Start a Conversation at Networking Events

How to Start a Conversation at Networking EventsHow to Start a Conversation at Networking EventsUntil youve done it at least a few times, attending a networking event can be stressful. Whats the best way to introduce yourself? Who should you talk to? How can you get a conversation started and keep it going?These are just some of the questions you may have about how to make networking events work well for you. The mora people you talk to, the mora opportunities youll have to progressonyourcareer path. There are things you can do to make networking at business events simple and straightforward. Taking a little time to prepare and practice in advance will soon have you networking like a pro. Types of Networking Events There are many different types ofprograms inwhichyou can participate. Options includingjob fairs (designed to help employers find candidates to hire),professional associationmeetings and programs (whichprovide continuing education and networking opportunities for memb ers), local business meeting mixers and workshops,college student and alumni events, diversity events, trade shows, and professional conferences all provide opportunities for in-person networking. How to Find Networking Events Whats the easiest way to find events to go to? Finding an event can be as easy as responding to an email from a professional association or your college alumni office, seeing a social media post advertising a program, or asking your connections for recommendations. Most networking events are listed online, and there area variety of ways tofind eventsthat match your networking goals. How to Prepare The most important thing to do before every networking event you attend is toperfect your elevator pitch, a brief recap of the professional you, and tobe ready to share it with everyone you meet. Along with your elevator speech, bring somebusiness cardsand copies of your resume if youre attending a career-focused event or program. Review the meeting agenda an d workshops (if applicable), that youd like to attend. If its a career fair, review the list of attending companies so you can plan who youd like to talk to. Youll be more comfortable attending if you have an action plan in place. When You Arrive at the Event One simple way to get started is to offer to help with registration (if it looks like they need volunteers) orto sign-up in advance to be a greeter. Thats a terrific way to meet participants, as is mingling around the registration table as people arrive. Another good way to begin your networking efforts is to start by introducing yourself to people who are alone (be brave they may be feeling shy and in need of some company), then work up to introducing yourself to a couple of people and then a group. Review these easy ways to get a conversation started. Dont forget to wear your name tag. Its hard to remember names when youre meeting people in a group setting, and your name tag will be an easy reminder of who you are for th e people youre talking with. How to Introduce Yourself Introduce yourself with a smile and offer to shake kralles as youre introducing yourself Hi, Im Elizabeth Jennings and Im glad to meet you.Hello, Im Jonathan Brightman and its a pleasure to meet you. As youre introducing yourself, make eye contact without staring at the other person. Take a moment to look at the persons name tag it may mention the company they work for or their role as an organization, which will give you the opportunity to break the ice and have something to talk about. When someone introduces themselves to you, be prepared to respond with a few phrases to get the conversation started Hi Elizabeth, Im Andrew Cairns and its a pleasure to meet you.Nice to meet you, Jon, Im Katherine Kildeen. How to Shake Hands Be prepared to use whats known as abusiness handshake a formal handshake to use in professional settings. Extend your right hand (if youre carrying anything, keep it in your left) and shake the oth er persons hand firmly for a couple of secondsbut dont grip their hand too hard or too loosely. If youre unable to use your right hand due to an injury or illness, use your left. If youre nervous and have sweaty palms, stop in the restroom and wash and dry your hands or use a little hand sanitizer (once it evaporates, it will dry out your hands) before you make the rounds. If you dont have time, use the side of your pants or skirt quicklyto wipe your hand dry. Getting the Conversation Started After introductions, the next step is to get a conversation going. An easy conversation starter is to mention the event venue. You could say that this is a great location, then discuss its proximity to your office or home. Mention the organization that is holding the event and how you found out about it, to get a two-way conversation going. Another option is to mention similar events you have attended. Perhaps you and the person youre talking with work or live nearby each other or have part icipated in other networking events sponsored by the organization. You both may know people in common through work, college, professional associations, and other connections. If its an industry event, its always appropriate to discuss news and developments in your industry or career field. If youre a speaker or participating in a workshop, thenmention that. Add that youd be interested in hearing feedback after the program. Keep the Conversation Going When youre attending a conference, talk about some of the programs or workshops you have attended and what you liked about them. Asking a question or two will help tokeep the conversation going. For example Have you been to this event before?What did you think about the speaker?Have you attended many of these events?What do you like best about attending these types of programs?What do you think of the program so far?What did you like best about the talk/speaker/workshop?(if you saw the person in a workshop or presentation that you a ttended). More Ways to Introduce Yourself Networking events arent the only situationsinwhichyour introduction can impact the outcome of your meetings. During job fairs and job interviews, and even when youre emailing or sending a LinkedIn message, that first impression needs to be a solid one. Heres how to make a perfect introduction at a job interview, at a job fair, when you start a new job, and how to introduce yourself in an email message. Networking Practice Makes Perfect Even though introducing yourself can feel awkward and a bit uncomfortable, the more you do it, the more practiced youll become. Its always a good idea to a network, even if you dont need to. If youre participating because you want to, rather than because you have to, there will less pressure to perform and more opportunities to practice. The more networking events you attend, the easier it will become. If youre an introvert and the thought of networking still puts you into panic mode, readingtips will help you feel much more comfortableas you work the room.