Hey Ambitious Professionals! It's Linda Raynier of lindaraynier.com guiding you
to a career and life you'll truly enjoy. In today's video I am going to walk you
through my five top tips on how to socialize your way confidently casually
yet professionally through any networking event so that you can make
new acquaintances and friends and be able to improve your communication
skills
Ready to get the job you want? Top Notch Interview is coming soon! For more info
and free training head to JOINTNI.COM
As a career strategist I've had the honour of being able to help numerous
professionals land their dream job offers and so if this is something that
you're interested in working with me one on one I can give you details about that
at the end of this video many times when we go to networking events we can feel
very awkward we feel kind of nervous and that all makes us not want to really
talk to anybody and I know firsthand because I'm this way I actually don't
really enjoy going to networking events because I feel as though we have to
force conversations with each other just so that we feel accepted but at the same
time I've learned to master some techniques along the way and I know that
you don't have to feel awkward when going to networking events so here are
my five top tips on how to communicate at networking events tip number one
remember the point of a networking event is to meet others not to get a job most
networking events simply offer opportunities for people to connect it's
not a job fair now if it is a job fair that you're going to then that's a
completely different story but that's not what I'm talking about today I have
seen so many instances where I would be at a networking event and you see that
one or two people in the room who treat the networking event as if it's a job
fair and you could tell they're running around the entire room going after each
person handing out their resume handing out their business card not even
remembering people's names not even getting to know who they really are
they're just out for themselves and no one likes that person no one wants to
connect with that person and no one's going to refer that person to any job
tip number two go with the intention to make one new friend just one if you find
more than one great here's a different way to see it instead of going to a
networking event to look for contacts you should actually go to a networking
event with the intention to make one new friend the reason for this is if you're
going to a networking event with the mindset of finding new contacts
all of a sudden that feels very cold and intimidating but if you tell yourself
that you're just going to make a friend and try to meet someone who you think
you're gonna be able to connect with that all of a sudden changes the whole
dynamic changes the energy for how you carry yourself and it increases your
chances of actually eventually making that contact so if you're going to a
huge networking event why would you only look for one friend well the truth is
unlike in elementary school when we were kids you're not going to be able to go
to this huge party and be able to make 10 friends all within an hour as adults
that just doesn't happen anymore so it's better to spend your time looking around
the room and get to know just a small handful of people and decide who you
want to get closer in connection with in terms of having deeper discussions with
them throughout the evening and exchanging contact information with them
as well so the weight of you networking events is to see them as opportunities
to make a new friend yes I said a friend not hundreds or tens or dozens of
friends just a new friend which leads me to my next point tip number three be
curious if after this initial conversation you find that the both of
you do have a genuine curiosity for one another
you both are on the same wavelength and you feel that this person could be that
potential friend that you're going to connect with then it's good throughout
the evening you don't have to stick by them the whole evening but it's good
that if you go decide to talk to other people you both end up talking to other
people that once in a while you find that person and you just check in to see
how they're enjoying it so what this does is it establishes the new bond that
you've just built with them through multiple interactions and again that's
going to increase your chances of having them as a real contact after the event
is over and who knows that could lead to a job offer one day tip number four hang
out with them if the vibe seems good but move on if not as much as you may like
it when other people ask about you and you talk about yourself you have to
remember that other people like being asked about them too so when first
starting a conversation with an individual at a networking event
be curious about them ask them how do you like the event so far ask them what
they do ask them where they're from you know start it with just a few ice
breaking types of questions get to know them and within those first 10 to 15
seconds you'll probably get a good vibe as to whether you want to keep talking
that person the rest of the evening or whether it's useful useful for you to
maybe find someone else who you may have a better connection with now being
curious does not mean interrogation don't just stand there and ask them
questions and not really listen to what they're saying you want to connect you
want to understand what they're saying hear what they're saying and have
relevant stories to share with them and finally tip number five make sure to say
goodbye to that person if you're leaving first and connect online don't forget to
say goodbye and add them to LinkedIn if you decide to leave the evening first
taking the time to go up to them saying goodbye to them shows that you genuinely
value who they are value them as a human being and again this increases the level
of interaction between you two the level of familiarity between you two and
increases your chances of seeing that person later on in the future so there
you have it those are my five tips on how to make a new friend at a networking
event now if you're someone who is currently well into your job search
you've been looking for a while you haven't had much success and you realize
that you need one-on-one professional help then feel free to reach out to me
head on over to my website lindaraynier.com/standoutgethired read
through the page fill in the application form and if it seems as though we are a
potential match then one of my team members will be reaching out to you
directly if you like this video then please give it a thumbs up subscribe
share it with your friends thank you so much for watching and I will see you in
the next video
Ready to get the job you want? Top Notch Interview is coming soon. For more info and
free training head to JOINTNI.COM