I was in the non-profit sector for a long time. I worked for a small, low-key organization that wasn’t profit driven at all and was focused on just helping people.
Last year, I left that sector and moved into a higher paying line of work in a new city. Idk if it’ll ever work out, but I want to have a family one day and I just realized my little non-profit salary wasn’t gonna cut it.
I’ve been trying to give it my all and, last night, I went to my first networking event. I haven’t felt like an awkward high schooler in such a long time, but that is honestly what it felt like. It seemed like everyone already knew each other and was mega hot and successful. It was a bit intimidating, but I’m not a fucking quitter and stuck around for a couple hours and managed to introduce myself to a few people and get some conversation going.
What strategies do you all have for meeting people in a loud room full of people that have already known each other for years?
11 comments
Listen and ask questions.
Get a new router! But no, most of my contacts have come through a current job – vendors, sub contractors, etc. Be amicable and chat with them about there company/ industry/ pay standards/ etc. I have job hopped pretty well with that strategy.
I personally would just use these sort of events to listen. Some people who are actually successful are willing to share their thoughts, opinions and experience. Build your knowledge as knowledge is power. If you create a professional connection that’s great but if you leave knowing something you didn’t before, you are winning.
Talk to everyone. Try and find out at least one new thing about everyone you talk to every time you talk to them. Work on remembering it too – nothing makes people happier than to bump into you and have you remember their son was trying out for varsity hockey.
Take on more work that involves you working with other departments, and do it well. It’s one thing to have charisma, but it’s another to do your work well. I wasn’t very talkative at my first job, but I put myself in a position that had me working with the sales/recruiting, HR team, and IT. While working in financial reporting. Sometimes a skill you learn in one job might be needed by an IT guy working at a new company. You don’t always need to accept the position, but it leaves your options open and can be good word of mouth.
Read “How to Make Friends and Influence People.”
Join a chamber of commerce. Or multiple chambers of commerce.
Engage with people and be willing to do favors if someone needs help on something like a project. One thing I’ve learned is that when you’re kind to people, it is in their nature to want to help you, so if they have a good opinion of you and find out about a job opening that would be good for you, they’ll reach out.
First off, props on staying with it even though you don’t like it.
Disclaimer: I’m pretty young in my career, too, so grain of salt.
* Ask questions. Most folks love talking about themselves, especially the (self-imagined) big shots.
* Conversely, have stories of your own. You worked in non-profits? Figure out how to talk about a person you helped, or a complicated grant you got. Things like that.
* If you get a business card from someone, wait until after they’ve left, then jot down some notes on the back about the conversation and things you want to remember.
* If you *really* feel like you hit it off with someone,send them an email thanking them for the conversation. Possibly, bring up elements of what you discussed as proof you were paying attention.
Learn the OSI model.
Find something you have in common with everyone you talk to, once you make a personal connection like that its much easier to expand upon it