There are two environments that lend themselves well to professional networking: large meetings and online forums. Below we list useful tips for handling both and following through with the connections you make to enhance your job search.

Large Meetings

• If you are in a situation where you are wearing a name tag, always wear it on your right side. People will shake your right hand, so if your name tag is placed on the right side of your body, it will be in their line of vision.
• Save all the business cards you receive and jot down on each one a trigger that will help you remember who’s who. For example, “Wore red shirt. Had conversation about Thailand.”
• Practice effective communication skills, especially listening and explaining.
• Use humor. The safest kind of humor is self-effacing but not self-deprecating.
• Move away from thinking about yourself and others in terms of the job titles you have or have had. For example, instead of saying what your job title is, try explaining what you do.
• Remember that you won’t have chemistry with everyone and they won’t always have chemistry with you.This is okay! Try not to let it get you down.
• More often than not, it’s possible to find at least one thing you have in common with someone else.
• Avoid sitting next to someone you already know at a meeting, even if you haven’t seen them in a long time. This may be uncomfortable, but it will push you to interact with people you don't already know - which is the goal of networking.
• Be aware of your body language, facial expressions and overall presence. Some people find it helpful to get feedback on how they come across from trusted friends, family and/or coworkers.

Online Forums

• LinkedIn is a critical resource for networking and should be used to connect with new people. Your primary network is made up of your 1st degree connections, and as you look for others you might like to connect with the platform will show you any connections you may have in common..
• Having a compelling and up-to-date profile on LinkedIn that includes a headshot and professional summary are key to presenting the best professional version of yourself. To learn more about how to create your best possible LinkedIn profile, check out this archived webinar
• When you meet someone in person, send them a personalized invitation to connect on LinkedIn instead of the default invite.
• Offer to introduce people to your LinkedIn connections.

Learn even more tips to attract recruiters through LinkedIn and new changes to LinkedIn’s website that can help you land a job!

Remember, networking is an ongoing, interactive process, so these are not the only places you can network. You can even do so by simply eating pizza with others!

Updated 2024

Adapted from 2017 National Conference Presentation by Julie Jansen