Importance Of Follow Up When Networking

Dan McCarthy, Event Manager, VenueseekerA networking event is your chance to shine in front of prospective employers and recruiters. However, your work is far from done after shaking a few hands and giving out a dozen business cards. The work is just getting started. Now comes the follow-up work. There is a right and wrong way to get a hold of the employers. Know the correct way to follow up and the way NOT to do it.Wrong Way: Approaching the Employer Immediately After a SessionIf the employer is doing a presentation or lecture, don’t approach him immediately after he steps down from the podium. At least a dozen other people plan on bombarding him and introducing themselves. If you’re among the flock, what makes you stand out from the rest? You’re just crowding his space like a crazy fanboy/fangirl.The Right Approach: Wait for the Flock to Die DownWait for a few minutes until the people bombarding the employer has moved on. That’s when you make your move. Introduce yourself but don’t make a pitch right away. Instead, compliment him on the presentation, making note of a particular point that especially interested you. This shows that you actually paid attention. Once the conversation has picked up in a positive light, that’s when you cap off the conversation with your proposition.Another approach is to ask the employer if he has time after the event. You can offer to stay behind and even volunteer to help clean up if it gives you an excuse to remain at the venue after the other guests already left. If the employer is there as the event hosts’ special guest, then he’ll likely hang around a bit longer.Wrong Way: Sending an EmailTo be clear, following up with an email isn’t necessarily wrong. It’s just not the most efficient means. Why? The 50 other people that interacted with the same employer are thinking the same thing. Like you, most of them have done their homework and also know about the importance of a follow-up. Most will keep it simple with an email. Again, there is nothing wrong with this in of itself, but it’s hard to stand out using a mode of communication everyone else is using.The Right Approach: Make a Phone CallA phone call is more personal. Chances are that the employer will not pick up, and you’ll have to leave a message. That’s fine. In the message, re-introduce yourself, reminding the employer the two of you met at last night’s event. Make a quick reference about the conversation you had to jog the employer’s memory. End the message with your contact information and that you look forward to hearing back.Why is a phone call more effective? While 20 or so people may follow up with an email, a smaller number, perhaps five or so, will follow up with a phone call.Wrong Way: Handing Out Business CardsHanding out a business card seems like an intuitive thing to do. After all, that’s what business cards are for, so the recipient can get a hold of you. However, by the end of the event, how many business cards do you think the employer is going to have in his pocket? Business cards definitely have their place, but handing them out like candy at a networking event isn’t really one of them. Why? They’re kind of impersonal. Think about it: do you hand out business cards when interacting with a new friend? No, you don’t.The Right Approach: Exchanging NumbersWhen you befriend someone at a pub or out and about, what do you do? You pull out your phone and exchange numbers. While you’re not exactly befriending the employer, you want to create a more personal and impressionable way of staying in touch. Aside from exchanging numbers, you can also add each other on LinkedIn on the spot. You can also enquire about the company’s Facebook page if one exists and also join right then.Networking is an important part of career development in any industry. The follow up is just as important and can make you stand out from the dozens of other event attendees trying to vie for the employer’s undivided attention.