Professional networking is a vital part of building one's career. Making personal connections keeps you in a good position to access career opportunities. For instance, if you are a fresh graduate actively seeking a job, networking is one way to hasten that process. People are likely to get jobs faster through referrals than any other means. A good number of job recruitment are hidden from the public. One can access such opportunities only by personal connections obtained by networking. This is why it is essential to make a strong first impression at a networking event, as this can go a long way in helping establish valuable connections should you seek to build a successful career.
Below is a list of proven ways to make a strong impression at a networking event:
The first step to making a good impression, in any event, is to dress well for the occasion. It is quite an easy thing to do but very crucial. Your dress should reflect your personality in its elegance and style. Make sure what you wear is appropriate for the event you are attending. Keep it simple but good. In addition to your dressing, you should also appear neat. For men, getting a good trim, shaving your facial hair, and putting on a good cologne is extremely helpful.
Showing up on time for any event is always a good thing. Although most networking events are usually informal, getting there at the right time helps you settle in and appropriately interact with people, as opposed to getting the attention of everyone by coming in late and jostling for a sitting position.
This is a solid tool to employ when trying to create new connections. Looking people in the eye when communicating fosters connection and guarantees attention from the person you are trying to connect with. It also reflects that you feel comfortable having that conversation and are interested both in the person and what they are saying. However, staring should be avoided. Prolonged eye contact can be perceived as offensive and unnatural.
The key to making connections with people is good conversation. In events like this, perhaps everyone is a stranger to you. Sometimes people find it challenging to initiate a conversation with strangers, which is why it is good to go prepared. A useful tip is having talking points prepared for the occasion. You can start by talking about the event, why it was created, and give your opinion. This can be a start to a conversation that creates a genuine connection with someone who will help you in the future.
People hardly forget those who make them laugh. Telling a joke or two can help smoothen your conversation with people and give them a lasting impression of you.
It has been proven that people usually like to associate themselves with humorous people. This will play to your advantage if you do it right.
As you go about interacting with people, your goal should be to make a connection with them. This is a gradual process and doesn't have to be on a deep level at first. You can achieve this by discussing something in which you both share a common interest or relating some of your experiences to them. While talking, give people room to open up and contribute to the conversation. This speeds up the process of connecting and gives them a chance to get to know you more. It would also be wise to do a little bit of self-promotion while talking. Mentioning some of your best features can open up a whole new conversation about you trying out for a job opening or picking up your first client. There is no limit to how far these things can go if everything goes right.
Networking is just like any other skill. You need a bit of practice to master the art. We live in a world of complex social interactions. Being good at making connections and networking increases the odds of achieving success in your career tremendously.