Networking meetings are a crucial way that you can make important networking connections, strengthen your networking abilities, and learn vital information about your career path from successful people in the industry. This is true whether you are looking for jobs in USA, jobs in UK, jobs in Canada or jobs in Australia through sites such as Joblang. It’s important that you know how to have a successful networking meeting, however, in order to make the most of this opportunity. The following are 6 essential tips to keep in mind that will help you have a more successful networking meeting.
Personalize Your Invitation Messages
Never send generic networking meeting invitations, even if you are sending out networking meetings to 10 people at once. Always personalize your invitation message so that the other person feels that you have taken the time to learn about them, their skills, their expertise and their accomplishments.
Use the Phone—Not Just Email
You won’t be able to set up a networking meeting just through email, even if you don’t keen on talking to someone on the phone. Most professionals expect to set up the details of a networking meeting through the phone, even if the initial invitation came through an email or LinkedIn Message or other online platform. You should be prepared to contact the person through the phone once they have agreed to your initial pitch of setting up a meeting.
Come Prepared with Questions and Conversation Topics
One of the biggest mistakes you might make at a networking meeting is coming unprepared. Always prepare a list of questions and conversation topics prior to any meeting so that you can guide the conversation and avoid any lulls in the discussion. Preparing questions also shows the other person that you aren’t simply trying to fish information out of them; instead, they will see that you are a professional who has specific questions and discussion points.
Show Up On Time
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how many people show up late to networking meetings they have set up! This will definitely put a damper on your networking meeting, so make sure you show up on time. If you have to, get there extra early so you can avoid any issues such as traffic causing you to be late.
Offer to Pay for Coffee (Or the Meal)
The person you’re meeting with might decline in the end, but it’s always polite to offer to pay for coffee—or their meal, if you’re at a restaurant—if you are the one who has set up the networking meeting. This is a simple gesture that will go a long way towards improving the other person’s opinion of you.
Networking meetings are an essential part of any career. If you want to make sure that your networking meetings are successful, consider the above tips and implement them into every networking meeting you plan. You will find that you are taken more seriously and are seen more favorably by your networking partners when you take the time to prepare, be professional, and extend politeness to them during the meeting.
