How to: decide if a networking opportunity is worth your time
Networking events and other networking opportunities can be time-consuming. Therefore, you will often need to ask yourself whether a networking opportunity is worth your while and if you should go. You might be questioning whether it will be a productive opportunity or waste of time?
Here are some questions to ask yourself to decide if a networking event will be time well spent.
01. Do you like who you see? Who do you know? Who do you want to meet?
Who is attending the event? Look at the list of attendees. If this information is not available online or before the event, inquire with the event organiser or with your network and see who is going.
Do you see listed individuals who you want to network with? Networking is the opportunity to meet people. So if you do not see people that interest you, you may decide that you want to pass on a particular opportunity.
If there are only a couple of people you want to meet you may wish to consider if this networking opportunity the best place to meet them.
02. Is there downtime or designated time to network?
It is important that you actually have time to network at a networking event and will get the opportunity to meet the people you have noted that you would like to meet.
You cannot network if you and everyone else are listening to a keynote speaker or panel. There must be downtime or designated free time to have individual exchanges. Make sure that there is some time scheduled for networking.
If there is not time for networking, make sure that the event still offers enough for you to want to attend, and be proactive in carving out time yourself to network. Get to the event early, before the first session starts, to meet and greet others. Make sure that you have time to stay after the last session to talk with individuals even if there is not a formal networking session. If it is an evening networking session and you are having a good conversation with someone or group of people, why not ask if they want to grab a drink to continue the conversation.
03. Ask yourself how you feel about the opportunity
Does the idea of the opportunity get you excited, does it make you feel nervous, does it make you feel comfortable? Why?
Listening to your gut feel about a networking event can help you decide if it is worth your while attending. If you are excited, it is likely that you have a good reason to attend. If you are comfortable attending this may mean that you keep attending the same events. This can sometimes be a good thing, but consider if you are still getting value and if you need to expand your opportunities. If you are nervous or uncomfortable, think about why this is. If it is simply that you are attending something new, it might be a good thing (as you are trying something new) but if it is because you hate and dread a particular type of networking – you might need to look at a different type of opportunity.
04. Do you know why you are attending?
Do you know what you want and why you are attending the networking event? For networking events to be worth your while it is important to prepare and know why you are attending and how it is going to further your goals.
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