Things You Must Do Before Visiting an IT Networking Event
Are you a talented IT Professional or an expert looking forward to making the most out of an upcoming IT Networking Event, meet like-minded people and make valuable business connections? Well, read on as this piece will outline several things you must do before visiting an IT Networking Event to help you make the most out of every connection.
Networking is one of the most powerful marketing and business tools even for IT experts and professionals. It can lead to a number of great things including referrals in the IT field, new supplier contacts, like-minded individuals and more business connections. Networking events always make people nervous and are very awkward to the point of even causing one to have a sick feeling before visiting the event. This awkwardness is familiar to the majority of people especially those attending large-scale networking events. It is not exactly rocket science, but a little bit of preparation before visiting your next IT networking event could be what sets you apart from the pack.
Now the question comes in, how do you prepare yourself to attend an IT networking event, and most importantly, what are the things you should do before the event? Below is the to-do list before visiting any IT Networking Event to maximize what you get out of it.
1. Set clear your objectives, goals, and purpose for the event
Before visiting an IT networking event, one should always have a game plan. One should think before time and have clear reasons for why one is going, whom you would like to meet and why, the scope of what you are hoping to accomplish and lastly why every goal is important to you. A clear game plan boosts one confidence and gives one a purpose of attending an event. Always remember that you have a very short time to make an impression and being clear makes everything favorable.
2. Research on the key attendees of the event especially those you would want to meet
Before the event, one should do a thorough research on the people one would want to meet. It can be done by googling their names, reading any information about them and searching any industry articles they’ve published. Also look them up on social media by going to their LinkedIn page, Facebook profile and any other that you may deem relevant to know what they are working on and their likes. Having some basic information about someone helps one prepare on conversation openers that will generate conversations, after which a connection is sparked right away.
3. Prepare business cards, your way of collecting contact info and other supplementary info
After a great conversation with someone, the next big thing is exchanging contact information to do a follow up afterward. People forget to carry business cards to IT networking events. We all have done it either by accident or simple mistakes. Before visiting an IT networking event check and make sure you have carried enough business cards to hand out. Also, ensure you have a notebook and a pen to collect and scribble other people’s contact info in case some of the networks you make had forgotten their business cards. In addition, to remind other people of you and your business, prepare and bring pamphlets or other supplementary material to hand out. It is important as it makes one appear organized and consistent giving you a plus one.
4. Research and prepare on your elevator pitch
One should also ensure to study and prepare for the best elevator pitch to use explaining who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for. It usually is very embarrassing when you are asked a simple question like what you do and then coming out blank. This will ensure that you go to the IT networking event with a purpose and plan.
5. Prepare to talk about your work
The primary purpose of visiting a networking event is to talk about your work and not too much about yourself. Do your homework well and come up with the best things about your work to use during a conversation. Coming prepared to talk about one’s work enables one to be more specific on what one does and what others can do to help.
6. Keep yourself up to date
One should be on the know-how on a few things before attending an IT networking event which makes one be able to ask genuine and thoughtful questions. Every event is different in its own way, and one should come prepared with information such as who will be at the event and what the event is about. Also, one should prepare some icebreakers to trigger conversations and ensure they do not relate to sensitive topics such as religion and politics.
7. Plan on what to wear during the event
In a networking event, one wants to appear professional. One should always choose something that’s clean and appropriate for the event theme while putting into consideration the weather and atmosphere both inside and outside. Take the clothes to a dry cleaner or iron them out yourself to remove any wrinkles. Moreover, one should ensure that you have comfortable shoes which you can walk around with. All this will ensure during the day you look your best and professional because you never know if you might get tagged in someone else’s photo.
8. Focus on a positive attitude
In an IT networking event, the intentions will be to meet new people. Before attending an IT networking event bring out your best self by doing something that you enjoy and which makes you happy. When in a positive and jovial attitude, one is usually very friendly and ready to mingle which will make other people enjoy talking to you as well. People also become curious to know more about you.
