Five Ways to Stand Out at a Networking Event
Whether you’re an introvert or not, here are five easy things you can do to make yourself standout at a professional function!
Hello Loves! I recently came to the realization that I’ve been out of college for a whopping 5 years! It’s crazy how quickly time flies after starting your career and without Summer vacations. While I was reflecting on my college experience, I thought back to when I was a Senior and preparing for interviews and job fairs, and networking events. Those kinds of events can easily become stressful, especially to an introvert like me, but they must get done. So, whether you’re an introvert or not, here are five easy things you can do to make yourself standout at a professional function!
- Do Your Research: There can easily be over 40 or more companies at a job fair or represented at a networking event so memorizing facts for ALL of the companies would be impossible! However, you should come prepared with a few talking points and questions for your top 3-5 companies especially if you’re in the job search. Learn about their business and maybe even how they fit into your lifestyle, and then begin to build your relationship with the representative. Take the time to craft some really specific and unique questions that allow you to be remembered. The key is not to have a lot of conversations but a few meaningful conversations. Quality over quantity.
2. Craft Your “Elevator” Pitch: These are definitely not as daunting as they sound! When you’re meeting new people, it’s important to be prepared to answer the question “So, tell me about yourself” or “So what do you do?” This is a super standard question asked any and everywhere so take the time to gather your thoughts beforehand. Keep it short and simple and be sure to include what you’re looking for in a company and what skills you bring to the table. Lastly, end things with a thoughtful question back to the representative to show them you’re interested. Some of my favorite questions are geared around workplace challenges and problem solving or asking the person more about themselves and their role.
3. Leverage your Resume: It’s a no-brainer to bring your resume to a career fair, but how should you use it? A great tip I learned was to speak to your resume just enough to get the recruiters eyes on it but the conversation is really where it matters. Use your resume as a talking point but don’t read it word for word. That might include something like “As you can see on my resume, my most recent role was… and I really enjoyed the XYZ aspect of the role. Do you see those characteristics at your company?” It can be something as simple and short as that!
4. Business Cards Aren’t Dead: Particularly in more professional settings, business cards are still a must have! Take the time to get some made by an online company like Zazzle or Vistaprint that have your name, contact details, and title. If you’re in the process of looking for a job, think of some key identifiers for the industry you’re interested in and go from there.
5. Wear a bold piece: An easy way to stand out before you even start speaking is to wear a standout piece like this camel colored skirt from Asos. Pair it with a neutral top, a blazer (a must!), and a simple conservative heel for a unique look. A rule of thumb I follow whenever I wear a more vibrant piece, I always make sure to keep the rest of my outfit fairly conservative. When you’re dressed to stand-out, people will automatically comment on your outfit which is a great way to open the door for conversation!
What are some of your favorite networking tips?
