Five Important Corporate Networking Tips

When most people think of networking, they equate it with small business ownership. For small businesses, networking is an incredible, low-cost way to mingle with fellow business owners and potential clients and customers. Networking is also a great tactic for corporate executives and marketers. Corporate networking is an opportunity to build or enhance a career, make strategic connections, and climb the corporate ladder.

Corporate networking can also be a good way for you to introduce others to your company. If you work as a mentor or have a team of people working for you, corporate networking lets you introduce them to new faces in your corporation. These five tips will help you put your best foot forward at the next corporate networking event you attend.

1. Plan ahead by researching the event. Is the event a corporate lunch and learn that can give you valuable new insight into skills enhancement and personal development? Is it a training session that will enhance your knowledge of corporate policy? Is it a teambuilding event that will help you learn more about your current or upcoming strategic partners? Understanding the event’s goal can help you make the most of the time you spend there.
2. Just like small business owners create an elevator pitch for use at small business networking events, you should take a similar approach to attending corporate networking events. Develop a straight-to-the-point way of explaining your job title, team role, and career goals. When you meet the head of your department or the chairman of the corporate board, having a pre-planned statement can help you look and feel professional, prepared and polished.
3. Treat the networking event you attend like the professional event it is. Dress appropriately, carry business cards, and leave profanity behind. When you know you’ll be attending a corporate networking event, arrive on time, practice a firm handshake, and be prepared to listen more than you speak. If alcohol is offered, don’t overindulge and if a meal is part of the networking event, pay careful attention to your table manners.
4. Keep your career goals in mind and focus on meeting and getting to know people who can help your career grow. You should also look for people who are where you want to be career-wise and seek them out for advice after the corporate networking event ends. Finally, look for people for whom you can offer help, support, encouragement, and guidance. After all, lifting as you climb works in both directions.
5. Think about what will happen after the event is over. Make sure your social media platforms are current, contain a professional headshot, and list your major accomplishments. If you won, or were nominated for, awards in your corporate industry, be sure to list those. While you’re paying attention to your social media pages, make sure you corporate and professional social media pages and profiles are separate entities.

Corporate networking is an ideal way to roll career-building, mentoring, and personal development into one event. If you’re the host of a corporate event, make it easy for attendees to meet and mingle by creating wayfinders, signs, and banners that make it easy to locate and navigate your event venue. Contact us for a Product Consultation and help designing the right signage for your corporate event.