How do I handle in-person v online networking? It seems that the pandemic has killed some in-person events. Attendance is low, or is at the same level each week, and events are not growing. Everyone started to network on LinkedIn, but my location never really pops up when job announcements or other news events happen. Kinda hard to network across state lines...
Most of the advice I give centers around finding alternatives to in person networking events. There's nothing wrong with going to them if that's how you like to meet people. Instead, I encourage people to start having one on one conversations with people they already know. This is usually someone you worked with at a previous job or someone who you worked with in your current job who left to go work somewhere else. These conversations start online through email or LinkedIn messages. Then you work on having an in person or voice to voice conversation. In these conversations, you reconnect with the other person and find out what they're working on. Think of ways to help them. If they ask how they can help you, be ready with a list of people you'd like to meet or a list of companies where you might want to work. If the person can introduce you to someone new, great. If not, continue to keep the relationship alive over time and it can lead to opportunities. This seems like it would be less efficient than going to a big networking event, but in reality, you're more likely to talk to someone who can help you meet new people or find new opportunities using the one on one approach.
How do I handle in-person v online networking? It seems that the pandemic has killed some in-person events. Attendance is low, or is at the same level each week, and events are not growing. Everyone started to network on LinkedIn, but my location never really pops up when job announcements or other news events happen. Kinda hard to network across state lines...
Most of the advice I give centers around finding alternatives to in person networking events. There's nothing wrong with going to them if that's how you like to meet people. Instead, I encourage people to start having one on one conversations with people they already know. This is usually someone you worked with at a previous job or someone who you worked with in your current job who left to go work somewhere else. These conversations start online through email or LinkedIn messages. Then you work on having an in person or voice to voice conversation. In these conversations, you reconnect with the other person and find out what they're working on. Think of ways to help them. If they ask how they can help you, be ready with a list of people you'd like to meet or a list of companies where you might want to work. If the person can introduce you to someone new, great. If not, continue to keep the relationship alive over time and it can lead to opportunities. This seems like it would be less efficient than going to a big networking event, but in reality, you're more likely to talk to someone who can help you meet new people or find new opportunities using the one on one approach.