I recently had a great conversation with someone about the nuances of networking. Even as someone who talks to people literally every day for my job, networking events can be a little daunting sometimes. It’s understandable when that’s not your day-to-day, it can be a very overwhelming piece of the job-searching puzzle.
It’s important to remember that first impressions are crucial, and you only get one shot to make the most out of it. No pressure, right?! We all have heard the importance of networking and how critical these relationships are, but HOW can we make sure we’re successful?
The biggest piece of advice is to shift your mindset and take the pressure off. Networking is a longer-term process of relationship building. Let’s be real- the odds of you leaving this networking event with a job offer in hand are highly unlikely, so let’s lower the bar. If you’re going into the event being transactional, that will be very obvious and turn off many people immediately. So don’t think of it as what you’re trying to get out of it right this second- think bigger picture. Think of it as an opportunity to genuinely learn about others and practice talking about yourself. Hone some solid questions you can keep on file for when you need them.
What nuggets can you take away?
-Did you hear someone who killed their pitch, and you learned how you can tweak your own to improve?
-Did you hear someone miss the mark and learn what NOT to do?
-Did you learn something cool about your industry or companies you might be interested in?
-Did someone ask an insightful question you can put in your toolbox for your next networking event?
Remember: Even something “negative” can be progress in the right direction. You learn what not to do or where you can improve for next time. Those things are super helpful in your professional growth, and at the very least, you can be proud of putting yourself out there. The more you exercise your networking muscles, the easier it will get.
Below are some links to previous blogs we’ve done that can help your networking/job search:
Tips for networking with recruiters: https://www.pharmafinders.com/2024/08/21/toptipsforworkingwithrecruiters/
Aspiring MSL networking tips:
Get your LinkedIn profile in good shape:
Job search tracking:
Re-focus your job search attention:
Happy networking,
-Crecia