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Top 5 Networking Tips for Young Professionals

Networking: some people hate it, while others get a rush out of meeting new people. Personally, I find networking to be very important for a young professional. As a new player in the industry, I feel it’s very important to get your name out there and meet some of the key influencers in the industry.

Here are some of my top five (5) tips for good networking.

1. Hang up and Live.

First of all, put your phone away. “Hang up and Live.” My good friend Vince always preaches this to me whenever we are together in social settings. I know, I know, sounds hypocritical for me to tell people to put their phone away when I catch myself disobeying this rule. I often find that my phone can be a crutch at a networking event. Instead of forcing myself to talk with someone, I’ll just whip out the ol’ Droid from my pocket and check my email, Twitter and Facebook. Then I think to myself, “How can I expect to engage with other attendees if I’m glued to my phone the whole time?”

The phone doesn’t have be turned off or left in the car, but be conscious of how other guests perceive you. I’m less likely to walk up to someone and spark up a conversation if all they are doing is staring at their phone. Even in this TweetUp/MeetUp/Web2.0 world we live in, we still need to be aware of our surroundings and make the right impression.

2. Prepare your Elevator Speech

Typically the first question someone asks you after finding out your name is “what do you do?” It’s a pretty basic question, but sometimes can cause a lot of people to trip up.  Before you enter a networking event, quickly practice your elevator speech to yourself. How do you want these potential professional contacts to see you? Make sure it’s not too long — just some quick facts about who you are and what you do, which will hopefully open up into more conversations.

3. The eyes are the windows to the soul

My high school theater director told me this quote in terms of engaging with the audience, but the same concept can be applied to a networking setting. Non-verbal communication cues are very important in a social atmosphere and I believe the eyes take the cake. We can say so much with our eyes alone, so maintain eye contact with the person you are talking to, smile, be engaged in the conversation and see where you can contribute.

4. Speak up!

This is one tip I usually have the hardest time with. Being a young professional in a networking setting, I often just try to blend in the background and listen, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but shouldn’t always be the case. When in a discussion, feel free to speak up. Show your smarts and contribute to the conversation. During my college career, I had a professor with an outstanding business record that would always say teaching had opened his eyes to so many possibilities. Although young professionals might not have all the experience, we still have some pretty cool ideas so don’t be afraid to share and contribute.

5. Practice makes perfect

Get out there and start networking! Meet new people and learn more about their experiences and professions. You might learn a thing or two. Listed below are a few of my favorite opportunities to network with other professionals in the city of Milwaukee.

Spreenkler – Spreenkler holds monthly meetups which are great opportunities for you to practice your networking skills. It’s a casual setting and a great opportunity to engage with other creative minds in the city of Milwaukee. Most meetings feature a presentation from someone who is shaping the creative and innovative landscape of Milwaukee. Plus they are sponsored by Transfer Pizzeria and Café and their food is delicious! More information on Spreenkler and when they meet can be found on their MeetUp page.

MKE Live – MKE Live is another great opportunity to get out and meet some of the creative minds of Milwaukee. Lead by Katie Felten, MKE LIVE host meetings about once a month on topics such as LinkedIn, FourSquare and other social topics.

More information on MKE LIVE and when they meet can be found on their website.

PRSA – One of my first action items shortly after starting at Comet Branding was becoming a member of the PRSA. The local chapter is a great way to meet other like-minded professionals who share similar professional goals and interests, while attending monthly meetings with relevant topic.

*Shameless plug* The Southeastern Wisconsin chapter of the PRSA is looking to kick start a young professionals committee. It will be spearheaded by Megan Sullivan and myself, so if you’d be interested in participating or getting involved, feel free to comment below. You do not have to be a member of the PRSA in order to get involved in PRSA Young Pros. We hope this group will be a great transitional phase from PRSSA to PRSA.

Any personal tips you’d like to add? What are your favorite networking groups to participate in?

For additional topics and insights, go to Formspring.me/AndrewWiech and ask me a question about social media. I’ll do my best to find an answer, provide my opinion and increase our collective knowledge.

Tags: Andrew Wiech, branding, Droid X, Kaite Felten, Milwaukee, MKE Live, personal branding, PRSA, PRSSA, Public Relations, social media, Spreenkler, Transfer Pizzeria, Wisconsin, Young Professionals