My Tips for Networking—Online or In-Person!

By Carina Pierre-Louis

One of the first things I learned post grad is just how important networking is for one's career. One key conversation can make all the difference when it comes to getting a job interview or a referral. It can be intimidating and nerve wracking, especially for recent grads and people who just aren't comfortable talking about themselves yet. But I urge you to take a breath and follow these few steps to overcoming your networking fears! 

Virtual Networking

1. LinkedIn Is Your Best Friend 

You know how we use Instagram to keep up with our best friends, exes, and distant strangers from our high schools? Yeah, well that is what LinkedIn is for your professional life. At networking events, I've seen people use creative tactics for making connections, including QR code lockscreens, sharing business cards and pens, and using Linktree to link to their professional portfolios. For a networking newbie, however, LinkedIn is a great way to expand your network and find key areas of interest. I use it to meet new people in the industry, share helpful resources to my community, as well as connect for coffee chats and networking events. On LinkedIn, we all have a voice to share about our careers but also meet career professionals who are usually very eager to help students get their start in the industry. 

1. Set Up Coffee Dates 

OK, so you've found a few interesting people in your industry and you want to learn more about them. It is time to set up a coffee chat! First,even though many media and marketing people run on caffeine, this chat does not have to involve coffee. It’s really your chance to stand out from the crowd and take that extra step to meet someone face-to-face. Once you’ve connected with someone and established a correspondence with them, explain clearly what you are hoping to learn from them or how you hope they can help you and then ask if they would be willing to meet you to discuss it. Conversations could revolve around how they got their start in the industry, what projects they are working on now, how they maintain a healthy work life balance, etc. You want this conversation to be personal to the person you're chatting with, as well as actually interesting so that they remember you and want to chat again! 

CAUTION: Do NOT jump into someone’s DMs or use a coffee date to ask someone for a job—this is a BIG NO-NO and also very weird. Not only do they not know you or your work ethic well enough to offer you a job, much less a referral, but also it comes across as rather rude to message or chat with someone just because you need or want something from them. Networking is a two-way street and works best when you build real relationships.

Here’s a handy template for inviting someone to a coffee chat:

“ Hi _______ (insert name) , my name is_______ , and I noticed you are a _______ (insert current position/company) . As a recent grad looking to get into the _______(insert industry or field) I was wondering if you had time to connect and chat about ___________ (insert topic of conversation/what do you want to learn about them). Thank you very much for your time and consideration!! 

1. Follow Through! 

Once your guests confirm a date and time, it is your job to send them a calendar invite with a location or a video chat link. Prepare for your meeting by looking at their work history on LinkedIn, reading any articles they may have written or have been featured in, and checking out their socials and website. You want to do as much advance research on your guest to help you prepare questions and get to know any similarities you and your guest share. 

This is all part of having a conversation, but it can be all the more successful if you share each other's interest and ideas, and I argue it is the most important step of networking—showing up and being present. If for any reason you need to cancel or reschedule, let your guest know ahead of time.It is a courtesy for them to meet with you, so please respect their time and show up. 

I know this part can be nerve wracking, but see your coffee chat as the start of an acquaintance. Be present, engaged, and most importantly be authentic. 

1. Keep in Touch

You did it! So, then…what now? First, be sure to thank your coffee guest for taking the time to meet with you. Remind them of who you are and how appreciative you are to them as a connection in your career journey. Next you want to keep in touch. The purpose of a coffee chat is to create a professional network to help support your career journey, and the key to creating a relationship is to stay connected. Send them interesting articles or comment on their LinkedIn posts. I'd recommend sending them a chat every few months checking in on how they are doing, as well as sharing any projects or tasks you have been working on. And then you have successfully networked!

Networking In-Person: 

Attending a networking event? This is the perfect place to practice your pitch and network with the pros. Networking in-person is a bit different because you aren't able to LinkedIn stalk your guest prior to meeting them. Usually people who attend networking and recruiting events are looking to meet new people and make connections, cutting out the need to figure out a person's intentions or vibe. They want to chat!

Practice, Practice Practice

Still, figuring out what to say or talk about at an in-person networking event can be scary. My number one tip for networking in-person is to practice your own personal pitch. There will be a point in the conversation where the other person will ask about you, and the best way to prepare is to practice talking about yourself. Who are you? Where do you currently work? What are you currently working on? What are you rocking towards? Write these answers down and format them in a way that tells a story about who exactly you are. Practicing your story to friends, family, and even yourself will help you feel less anxious when speaking about yourself to strangers. 

Although I may seem like a networking expert now, it took me a minute to get here. So give yourself grace if you're just beginning to dive into the world of networking and cold emailing. Remember that all the work you put into yourself and your career will be worth it in the end. So flex your networking skills online, through the Center For Communication Networking Group, and in-person, at the 6th Annual Diversity + Media Career Summit, on May 5th. Register now!