Blog Post: Network Your Way to Success!

Let's face it, one of the best ways to get in front of people who are working in an industry you are curious about is to attend events put on by professional organizations. Attending these kinds of events can be a bit intimidating at first. My advice: do your homework. Research the people who are attending, the organization putting on the event and have a game plan for approaching people. Remember everyone is in the same boat, only difference is, some people have been doing a bit longer and hence, have their sea legs, i.e. they’re pretty comfortable in a crowd of strangers. Here’s something else to remember; everyone attending is just like you, trying to make a connection that will help their career or business. The organizers know this as well, and encourage everyone to interact and meet, so that takes away some of the initial awkwardness of approaching people. I have found, if you have a plan of how you are going to introduce yourself the conversation starts a lot easier. So, how do you find professional organizations and get linked into their events? A great place to start is an online search. Most organizations today have their own websites with all the information you’ll need. Additionally, when you target a specific industry ask those already in it what groups they belong to and what events they attend. For example, if you are interested in advertising, www.thinkla.org is a must and so on. Check out the events calendar here on Jobing.com for a list of events in a variety of industries going on monthly. Remember, this is your chance to get in front of those who are doing what you want to do and ask questions - so be prepared. You’ve heard it a million times, but you only get one chance to make a first impression, so be sure you are dressed appropriately, have done your homework and have business cards with at least your contact information to hand out. Good luck!