After almost two years of reshaping how we networked in a pandemic world – namely making connections over virtual coffees via Zoom––getting back to making connections face-to-face might seem exciting and a little intimidating.
During Covid, never was the importance of connection so amplified, yet
research revealed our professional and personal networks shrank by close to 16% during the pandemic.
But according to
this study by MarTech's Event Participation Index, we are pivoting once again, readying the return of in-person networking over the next 12 months, with twice as many respondents saying they were “extremely likely” to attend in-person events in the first
half of 2023.
Networking is one of the most effective tools for professional development. It’s an ideal way to connect with potential customers, associates and partners, helping you build core relationships with people and other businesses in your industry. All the while,
this means you’re taking key steps in advancing your career. The numbers speak for themselves with
80% of professionals agreeing career success can be elevated through professional networking.
An IRL networking refresh
Before you overthink it, consider a few simple ways you can prepare to ease your entry back into in-person networking events.
Come prepared: Getting to know everything you can about an event and at least some of its attendees beforehand can help ease uncertainties. Have the organisers established a theme? Are you familiar with anyone on the guest list? Time spent on this
small, yet crucial pre-event planning can make all the difference to successful networking.
Refresh your elevator pitch: Time to start fine-tuning your elevator pitch. It should be bite-sized, ideally under a minute, and a brief overview of what makes you unique. A warm smile and firm handshake go a long way, especially when it comes to
easing yourself into it.
Be focused: Having a clear purpose for attending the event will help. Are you going to generate business, grow brand recognition, or stay current on your field’s latest developments? If you’re clear about why you’re there, you can jump at relevant
opportunities, ensuring you make the most out of your networking time.
Blended networking is still important
In-person networking will be a welcome return, particularly for those who feel the absence of the finer details, from that firm handshake to a longing for direct, non-pixelated eye contact. However, with hybrid working being one of the
top three trends driving networking modernisation, virtual networking can’t be discounted either.
Providing modern meeting rooms and devices with high-resolution video, and ensuring those attending can easily link in is also key, with any potential tech issues thought of in advance––seamless connectivity is the name of the game.
But whether in-person or virtually, building and growing a strong network opens you up to new opportunities and can help you to take your career to the next stage.
If you’re looking to expand your networking to a new level altogether, it may be time to consider a fresh start in a new job. We’ve highlighted three below, and there are many more to discover on the
Finextra Job Board too.
Technology Support Team Lead, Starling Bank, Cardiff
In this
Technology Support Team Lead role you’ll get the opportunity to really understand the core functionality of Starling Bank, working closely with internal teams and key suppliers. You’ll help look after all the technical queries employees and external partners
raise on a daily basis, supporting the critical infrastructure of the bank. You’ll lead from the front, inspiring and motivating your team to give the best support experience to colleagues and external partners, while sharing solutions that improve technology
outcomes.
Get the full job description here.
Cloud Security Operations Analyst, GoCardless, London
As a
Cloud Security Operations Analyst you will participate in the design, development and implementation of cloud security architecture, strategy and standards. You’ll provide subject matter expertise on security detection and response capabilities, and will
identify, evaluate and communicate cloud-related risks and vulnerabilities and recommended mitigations. Your background will ideally be in cloud security operations or as a SOC analyst and you will be experienced using cloud-native services and environments
(GKE, GCS) and performing incident response. You will be someone who enjoys working across team, function and group to improve the security posture of an organisation.
See full details here.
Senior Data Platform Engineer, Ripple, London
As a Senior Data Platform Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, deployment, and continuous monitoring of data-intensive applications.
Your work will enable the developer experience for data engineers and data scientists and you will bring a software engineering approach to infrastructure which will positively impact culture of ownership, reliability, trust, and observability. Among other
things, you’ll architect, deploy, and maintain Ripple’s multi-region, multi-provider service platforms––emphasising security and resiliency, and you’ll develop and maintain services to support data-driven analytics framework.
Find out more here.
For thousands more job opportunities, check out the Finextra Job board today.