Picture this: Tonight, you’ll attend a casual networking event for finance professionals. You saw the event on a local website, and you’re excited for the chance to connect with other financial professionals and hear about their professional experiences.
But, after carefully reviewing the guest list, you know there will be some leaders and CFOs from big organisations. Time to give it your best shot.
End scene.
Networking events aren’t easy — it’s an art to perfect the balance of small talk with a meaningful first impression. You don’t want to monopolise someone’s time or come on too strongly, and you want to be respectful of others in attendance.
Networking is a key skill and once mastered it can help you build meaningful professional relationships, gain valuable career advice, grow your brand, and achieve your career goals.
Whether it’s a casual career event, in-person job fair, or a webinar, here are seven tips to network effectively.
Determine your plan.
Prior to the event, determine your strategy and goals. Every networking event will be different — some will be casual affairs whilst others will be more formal and could require resumes. Prepare for the environment and research the guest list ahead of time. Note if there is anyone you want to connect with and research the organisations in attendance — brainstorm a few questions or talking points.
Prepare your pitch.
Successful networking relies on good personal marketing, and it’s advised to create a 30-second pitch. This pitch should communicate your strengths and competencies and let your personality shine. Practice it ahead of time and, as conversations unfold, look for natural places to add it into conversation.
Be authentic.
At any event, of course you want to exude professionalism, but you can still let your personality shine. Don’t be shy in sharing your interests and passions — it’s a great way to break the tension and develop trust over shared interests — but do so mindfully in a way that doesn’t dominate the conversation.
Listen, engage, and be helpful.
You don’t win a networking event by telling as many people as you can about who you are and what you do. A successful networking event is more about listening and engaging. Put those active listening skills to the test. Don’t push your personal agenda. Instead, listen respectfully and offer help through advice or knowledge sharing. Regardless of where you are in your career, you have insights to give.
Do a digital audit.
Not all networking happens in person. A lot can be done through social media and websites. It’s common practice for employers to check candidates’ social media as part of their screening process. Do an internet search of yourself and see what emerges. From there, check the privacy settings of your social media profiles and remove any content that may go against your personal brand.
Stay in touch.
Throughout the event, collect names and contact information of people and organisation’s that piqued your interest. After the career event or job fair, follow up with a simple note or message reminding them where you met and thanking them for the conversation. Try to keep that connection going and see if it can unlock opportunities.
Evaluate and debrief.
The event is done, but there’s a bit more work for you to do. Organise and evaluate all the contacts you made. Not all connections will be worth pursuing, but jot down any notes you need and send the follow-up communications you promised. Do a personal debrief — what went right and what didn’t? What skills do you want to improve upon for the next event? Do you need to tweak your pitch or overall approach? After one event, start planning for the next.
Effective networking takes practice
Building professional relationships from the ground up is hard, and effective networking takes frequent practice. You’ll likely make mistakes along the way, and that’s OK. They are lessons learned. Each event you attend opens the door to the next one and not only builds your network but builds upon your communication skills.
And think quality over quantity — it’s not about going after the next contact, but creating a rich network of professional connections.
For additional chances to network and to expand your network globally, consider joining a professional organisation like The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants® (CIMA). Together with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants® (AICPA), they form AICPA® & CIMA®, and connect you with a global network of 597,000 finance professionals from more than 180 countries. You’ll also have members-only access to a variety of professional resources, toolkits, webinars, and more to help you at every step of your career.
