Global PA Association is known amongst many other qualities, for organizing networking events for PAs and we understand that networking events are part of the life of a corporate worker, and planning

Firstly, you have to prepare for the event. This preparation helps you appear more composed and confident. Some things to do before the event day are:

·      When attending a networking event, make sure to keep an open mind to make new connections that could lead to great opportunities.

·      Get knowledge of the list of attendees from the organizers directly or indirectly.

·      Do a little research to get to know them and make decisions on whom you would target to speak to at the event.

·      For a bonus, you could contact them via email for a pre-introduction and to make conversations easier.

·      If you do not feel confident going alone, it might be a great idea to invite someone who could also benefit from the event to accompany you. Having a companion helps boost confidence sometimes.

·      Come with loads of business or contact cards to exchange with people you wish to stay in touch with after the event.

Secondly, during the event, here are some ideas on how to navigate your way smoothly through conversations:

·      If you are nervous, speaking with individuals first rather than a group of people may be best. This will help you start building momentum and getting into the element.

·      Do not focus on sweeping through the crowd in an attempt to speak to every attendee. It is better to speak to a few people with a specific target than everyone and in the end, no deep conversation with anyone because of short-timed discussions.

·      Endeavour to begin conversations with an introduction. Make sure to introduce yourself boldly, briefly with only important details of your name, role, organization, and other interesting details about your career plans. Keep it cheerful and brief as your introduction may open doors for more discussion.

·      When discussing with people, ask questions about their jobs, roles, and career ladder interests. Make it as engaging as possible. It is usually positive when people perceive you are interested in their professional history.

·      Do not start pitching for an opportunity at the event, however, where you see how a person may be helpful to you, you can engage them to tell you more about those areas. Tell them it is an interesting field for you and you will like to learn more from their experiences. After the event, when you have built more than a surface rapport with them, is a better time to pitch.

·      When there seems to be nothing left to discuss and you do not know how to end conversations, you can politely say you’d love to let them go ahead and interact with other people. You could also introduce them to someone else you think they would like to speak to. This is also a good time to exchange contact details or cards.

Thirdly, after any networking event, take a moment to think of how the event went and consider a follow-up on those important conversations you had. Keep in mind to reach out to the identified contacts within 48 to 72 hours after the event. You can either send them a mail or connect with them on platforms like LinkedIn, depending on the nature of your conversations, you may even arrange a physical meeting with them.

Happy Networking!



Global PA Association