Connecting with other professionals is an important part of establishing yourself in your career. Knowing others in the same industry or related fields can help you get your foot in the door of some pretty good opportunities. It gives you the edge over some of your competitors if you know the names of people in the companies you want to work for someday. We’re going to discuss what networking is, and how you can benefit from it.
What are networking events?
Networking events are structured activities designed to facilitate conversations with others in the same group, industry, or field. Professionals attend these events to meet others and make connections. Not all events are the same. Some may feature a lecture or presentation, while others may just be a table where people gather and talk about things going on in their organizations. The purpose of these events is for people in an industry to grow their network of connections.
Benefits of Networking Events
Networking is vital to career growth. Many people avoid these types of events because they don’t want to feel awkward walking around with a nametag that says “Hello, my name is…but if you can get past those first few minutes of awkwardness, it will pay off for you in the end. You’ll meet some great people and have a chance to find out what is going on in their companies and how you can get in on the action, if you wish.
Some of the biggest advantages of networking are:
● Build business relationships
● Advance your career
● Get access to job opportunities
● Get career advice and support
● Build confidence
Example of Networking Events
Career Fairs
Career fairs are the type of networking events that most people recognize. You may have attended one of these events long ago when first starting out in your chosen profession. During this event, representatives of many big-name companies set up a little booth with information about opportunities available in the company, the types of benefits they offer, starting salary, and etc. This is a chance for you to submit your resume for a position, and have a name to put down as your referrer. You can walk from booth to booth, learning about the different organizations and what they offer.
