“a necessary evil,” “transactional” and even “gross.” I chatted with five networking pros to learn their tips for making networking a positive experience.
1. “Talk about what’s on your mind.”
We’re all tempted to put on a face in order to present the best version of ourselves, but sometimes that can lead to strained inauthenticity. Megan Prince, chief revenue officer at Zeni, advises showing up as you are, “not someone that you think another person wants you to be.”
According to Jared Olsen, VP of people experience at JobNimbus, the best way to present your honest self is to “talk about what’s on your mind.” If you’re unemployed and looking for a certain role, be upfront about it. Olsen even suggests not dressing up for a networking event. “I just go how I normally am. I feel very unapologetic for who I am because I don’t want to be inauthentic as I network with people.” Those you network with can only lead you to the right opportunities if they know who you really are and what you need.
2. Make eye contact with someone new.
Networking helps fill 85 percent of positions. Eye contact is needed for 60-70 percent of a conversation to build an emotional connection. For Zach Barney, co-founder and CEO of Mobly, 100 percent of his jobs have come from his network, but eye contact was never a natural talent. He worked intentionally to conquer his weakness, and now he intentionally looks for new people to meet at every event.
3. Be a giver, not a taker.
Olsen started his networking journey while sitting for an interview with a relatively unknown pest control company. Olsen thought the company was amazing and created a post on Instagram to highlight it. He now does the same on LinkedIn, highlighting the cool #peopleofsiliconslopes.
“Helping [people] feel seen and heard can make a meaningful impact on who people are,” Olsen says. Networking shouldn’t be self-serving. If you don’t feel like you have much spotlight to share, give back by offering to review a résumé, giving your undivided attention or even sending a thank-you note.
Prince says you can think about how you want a person to feel after having a conversation with you, “and work backward from there. Think of serving others, and the good energy always comes back around.”
4. Don’t you forget about me.
Christopher Hartwell, the director of the on-campus MHR program at USU, emphasizes the importance of following up to maintain your network. For example, if you learn about a challenge someone is facing while you are networking, reach out to them later if you come across something that could help. “Letting them know you remembered … [and are] still thinking about [them] goes a long way.”
5. Bring genuine questions to make genuine connections.
Olsen approaches networking with all his aspects — VP, husband, father, content creator. He may gain career insights from an event but also come away with parenting tips. “Being able to know which hat to wear when you’re networking allows you to get lots of ideas,” he says.
To find those key insights, Olsen comes prepared with deep questions to ask the people he meets, inspiring them to share their genuine selves. “People are desperately seeking genuine, authentic connections,” Prince says. Networking is a chance to build friendships, not conduct transactions.
6. Have fun!
“Remind yourself that everyone is as uncomfortable as you are,” says Chipper Whatcott, the founder of Whelm. “Make fun the top priority and don’t put too much pressure on it.”