You have been physically and mentally preparing yourself for days leading up to the networking event you’ve been anticipating for. You have your business casual outfit ready, came up with a perfect 30-second elevator pitch, and printed out a few dozen business cards you feel proud of designing yourself. During the event, you politely introduce yourself to potential connections and chat anything and everything relating to the event and the field you aspire to go into. You may feel good once you hand over your business card and exchange contact information, thinking you just succeeded in networking, but what comes after that?
For the past six months, the organizing committee members of the SFU Student Marketing Association (SMA), along with myself, planned and hosted a networking event for SFU Beedie students and other attendees who were interested to see what a career in marketing entailed, called Marketing in Focus, which was held earlier this month on Saturday, November 4. I did behind-the-scenes work for MIF, but just like the typical Beedie business student, I was also present during the event for the purpose of wanting to establish connections with other SFU students and professionals. Personally, I have interests and a desire of wanting to go into marketing myself after university.
After a networking event, what should you do next?
1. Send an invite on LinkedIn
Pop quiz! Which social media network is best known for its one-liner, “I’d like to add you to my professional network?” If you guessed LinkedIn, give yourself a point.
You should connect with others on LinkedIn at least 24 hours after the event has passed. Any more time than that, and they will most likely not recall who you are. Make the invite more meaningful by adding in a personal note instead of using “I’d like to add you to my professional network.” In under 300 characters, I use the following template:
Hello [first name of connection you’re adding],
My name is [your name] and I was an attendee at [event name] on [date]. It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday! I would love to connect with you on LinkedIn.
2. Reflect and take notes entailing your experience
As Marketing In Focus was the first ever networking event I went to, it was evident that the last six months of planning that lead up to MIF was a huge learning experience for me. I now know what it feels like to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines (especially when you are handling a full courseload in school and other commitments going on in your life), collaborating in a team, and acquiring soft skills – patience and communication being significant ones that stood out to me the most. After achieving a milestone, I usually take the time to sit down and reflect on my achievement and take notes. My reflection can be found here on my website.
3. If you have a website, make sure everything is working and is up-to-date
If you have a website of some sort, whether it is a portfolio, a blog, or a service, chances are the people you have met and the connections you have made will take a look at your website and see what you have to offer. Make sure all of your content is up-to-date and everything is working and that there are no broken or dead links or images.
Networking events should not end once you have met new contacts. Use it as a tool to better yourself professionally, act upon a business opportunity you may come across, and of course, find your path to a career of success and fulfillment.