Professional networking is a tried and true strategy to grow your career. If you have been putting in the legwork but have not yet seen a positive impact from your networking efforts, it’s possible you could be missing some crucial opportunities. There is a bit of an art to a successful networking event. Here are a few ways you can optimize your time at networking events and make the connections that will surely set you on the right path.
Showcase a Powerful Curiosity
People like to talk about themselves. They also like and tend to remember the people who show an interest in them. Making an effort to get the person you are speaking with to talk about themselves in detail will cement you as an engaging and interesting connection. Ask questions that lead to in-depth conversation. Show your sincere curiosity about their work, about their interests, and about their career, and they will open up and share a surprising amount of information.
Good questions that are sure to start a conversation include what their primary responsibilities are, what experience they need to get their job, and what they like or dislike about the work they do. The key is to never ask a yes-or-no question because there is nowhere for the conversation to go. Show your curiosity and genuine interest in a person to make an impact. While it may be tempting to talk about yourself at a networking event, you can make more meaningful connections by learning about other professionals.
Remember Names
When you are introduced to someone, do everything you can to remember their name throughout the event and after as well. People gravitate toward others who remember and use their name in conversation. Forgetting someone’s name can have a strong negative impact on their perception of you. Using their name repeatedly can help solidify their name in your mind. But don’t use it so much in conversation that it seems obvious you are trying to help yourself remember their name. Another way to remember names is to associate something unique to the person or the name so that it is easier to recall later on. Even just by associating a person you just met to a celebrity with the same first name can make it that much easier to recall their name at a later date.
Offer Your Assistance
Another way to make sure you are remembered by the professional connections you make at a networking event is to offer your assistance and help other people make the connections they are eager to find. You can make an introduction at the event itself or when you follow up after the event in a couple days. They’ll appreciate your attention and your consideration so much that they will surely remember your effort positively.
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