I consider myself an informal networker. :)
Ask the Readers: Do You Attend Networking Events?
Photo: ShashiBellamkonda
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Francesca, Betty D, and JoAn for winning this week's contest!
Everyone has heard the saying "it's not what you know, but who you know." Oftentimes having a connection at a company you want to work for can help you get your foot in the door and land a job! One of the best ways to connect with other professionals is to attend networking events.
Do you attend networking events? If so, how often? How do you find events? Have you ever met someone at an event who helped you find a new job? Have you ever helped someone you met at an event get a job?
Tell us if you attend networking events and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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Mandatory Entry:
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Good Luck!
Nope! I don't like the whole "networking" aspect of things sometimes. But my business is so small that I don't really have the $$ or time to do much schmoozing, etc. And that's okay, I like it that way! It's not something I can do full time right now, so it works for me. Maybe later though...
In college, I went to networking events but didn't end up generating leads. I did however get a job from a personal connection, which proves to me that networking of any sort is very valuable.
I go to networking events regularly. I don't do it to seek clients, but rather to stay on the top of people's minds in the community. It's also a great way to meet interesting people you would never cross paths with otherwise.
I do not attend formal networking events, but I should. I believe my lack of networking has contributed to the slower movement of my carer than I would like. I am very interested in others' suggestions about how to identify and capitalize on networking opportunities.
I definitely feel that I should as I've just been told my company has been sold but its so hard to find a sitter after work for my daughter.
I do not attend networking events. First off, I'm unaware of any such events in my field or parallel fields in my area. Second, I am uncomfortable in large crowds of individuals I don't know.
Yup. As a freelancer, it is necessary. There's only so much you can do online, and meeting in person just tends to be better for me.
I try to attend as many as I can. If I can go with a friend or two, it definitely makes the experience more enjoyable and is easier to meet people. I make sure to research what the event is about and if it's of interest then I'll definitely put in effort to go!
I did when I was in grad school, but it usually boiled down to one or two people at the table with jobs and everyone else at the table who desperately wanted jobs eying them hungrily. Lately the professional org for the field I want to enter hasn't been as active, but I'd like to attend more if I can.
I used to attend these kinds of events when I was still actively working. Now that i'm a stay at home freelancer, I don't get out as often.
We attend local networking events on occasion. Since most of our clients are not local, we attend events at industry conferences around the country. We deal with clients by phone & online on a regular basis and it's helpful to meet them in person when possible. The personal connection is important.
Networking makes me a nervous wreck. I want to be better at it, but I'm intimidated by large groups of people, especially ones that I don't know. I need to enhance these skills, though, because knowing someone is the best way to find a job in my town.
I attend a yearly convention in person and I have found many contacts and some new friends by doing so!
Hello. I've actually never left a comment before so this is a new endeavor for me... (keeping my fingers crossed that my message actually "posts").
Re: Networking events- I went to my very first one just last month... I never received so many business cards in my life (nor distributed my card out so much)! The pros- you meet a lot of new people who share the same interests as you "work/job related" but I'm left wondering if meeting all these people is really beneficial or just time consuming... It reminds me of the 80/20 rule (google if unfamiliar)- Are these people the 20% or the 80? On that end though... I did meet a gentleman who specialized in a service (auditing clinical sites) I was in need of so nonetheless, I thought of him... I figured I could research his name online first to make sure his credentials panned out. It's too bad that I didn't get his business card though.
I occasionally attend networking events, but I have never gotten a job through one. I have met some interesting people that I am now friends with, though.
My industry happens to be something of a niche (specialty coffee), so any industry-wide event is essentially a networking event, but I've never attended anything specifically marketed as such. It's incredible how making that personal connection with someone can come back to reward you later on down the line!
Before I got my current job I attended a few but that was more than 5 years ago. Lately I have not attended or had the desire to attend networking events.
I haven't gone to a networking event, but if I heard about one that interested me, I would give it a shot.
I just finished law school, and I go to networking events, but much less than some of my classmates do. I believe in substance over quantity. Go to networking events to meet new people, have good conversations expand you interests and understanding of issues and develop personal and of course professional relationships. If you are treating networking events like a catered happy hour for you and the people you already hang out with you are wasting your time, and the other people in the room will see that too!
I attend a lot of networking events to promote the company I work for, and it has led to a lot of connections in the industry. We keep in touch outside of these events and who knows, I will definitely call on them when I am in the market for new work!
No, I've never attended a networking event and wouldn't want to. It seems so tacky, like you're using people and being used, and everyone's pretending to be all friendly and okay with it. I'd prefer to just meet people in normal settings and become actual friends, and if you're able to help friends out at some future point, great.
I don't attend networking events, mainly because I'm still at a stage in my life where, as a student, I don't have much to offer anybody. Maybe when I'm about to graduate from medical school, I'll have something to offer!
I informally network. I don't own a business or need a job presently. However, I do understand the value of networking and understand that circumstances can change.
I've attended teaching conferences to get new ideas for my classes, but I've never attended a networking event as part of a job search.
I'm pretty shy and reserved by nature, so attending events specifically for networking are like torture to me
