How to Actually Network at an Industry Event

How to Actually Network at an Industry Event

Networking is a buzzword that’s tossed around lots but rarely ever explained. We hear all the time that it’s vital for career growth and that industry events are one of the best places to make connections, but what does networking mean in practice? How do you turn a room full of strangers into professional allies?

Here, we explore what networking actually looks like, how to make long-lasting professional relationships, and how to get the most out of industry events.

1. Do Your Homework Before the Event

Successful networking starts long before you even step into the event venue. Researching ahead of time can make a big difference in how well you can navigate conversations and make connections that count.

Firstly, if the event shares an attendee list or if there are speaker profiles, take some time to look up who will be there. Make a note of the people you’d like to meet and do a bit of background research, so you’ll have relevant talking points ready. You should also set yourself some goals beforehand. For example, are you hoping to find a mentor, explore new job opportunities, or learn about a specific part of the industry? Setting clear objectives will help you stay focused and make the most of your time.

Leading up to the day, follow the event on social media and use the event hashtag to see who else is talking about it. Engaging with others beforehand can give you a head start on building relationships before you meet in person.

2. Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

At industry events, people are often introduced to each other quickly, and you may have just a few seconds to make an impression. This is where having a well-prepared elevator pitch can come in handy. It should be short (between 20-30 seconds is recommended), and should clearly communicate who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for. Try to keep it conversational and use mirroring techniques to adjust your tone and behaviour based on who you’re talking to.

3. Don’t be Afraid of a Little Small Talk

Many people dread small talk, but when done right, it’s a powerful way of building relationships – relationships that often start off with seemingly trivial conversations!

To make small talk easier, ask open-ended questions to get the conversation flowing, steering clear of yes/no questions that make way for awkward pauses. People enjoy talking about themselves, so give them space to do so! Be an active listener and use eye contact, positive body language, and follow-up questions to show that you’re engaged in the conversation. The good thing about industry events is that there’s lots going on around you, so if you’re stuck on how to kickstart a conversation, use clues from your environment – like the venue, a speaker’s presentation, or even the food – to spark a conversation.

4. Show Genuine Curiosity

Networking shouldn’t feel like transactional behaviour where you’re just there to extract value from people. Instead, aim to create authentic relationships by showing a genuine interest in others. Ask about their projects, challenges, or their career journey. The more interested you are in others, the more memorable you’ll be to them.

Think of networking as a chance to learn rather than an opportunity to ‘get’ something. Although you’ll have your list of goals prior to the event, it’s unlikely you’ll get what you want in one or two days, so use the event as a starting point rather than rushing around trying to find a new job or get 50 more connections on LinkedIn.

Whether you’re talking to an industry veteran or an entry-level graduate, everyone has something they can teach you and showing that you value their insights can help foster deeper connections.

5. Take Notes

Industry events can be pretty full on, especially if you’re meeting lots of different people for the first time. Give yourself breaks throughout the day by finding somewhere quiet to sit down and reflect, and even take notes. You might want to make short notes about some of the people you meet so that when it comes to reaching out to them after the event, you’ve got a few talking points ready to go.

6. Be Mindful of Social Cues

Be mindful of social cues and avoid monopolising someone’s time. If a conversation starts winding down, don’t be afraid to end it politely and move on. You can say something like, “It was great chatting with you. I don’t want to keep you from meeting others, but I’d love to continue our conversation – can we connect on LinkedIn?”. By being respectful of others’ time, you’ll leave a positive impression which makes them more inclined to want to reconnect in the future.

7. Look for Networking Opportunities Beyond Sessions

Often, the best networking happens outside of the structured sessions – during coffee breaks, meals, or at gatherings planned around the event. Make sure you attend the informal parts of the event, such as happy hours or mixers. These relaxed settings can foster more open, casual conversations, making it easier to build rapport.

Also keep an eye out for people standing alone. Approaching someone who’s by themselves can make their event experience better and may lead to a quality conversation.

8. Be Generous

Networking is a two-way street, and one of the best ways to make a lasting impression is to be generous. Share information that could be useful to the other person – maybe it’s an article you read, a person they should meet, or a piece of advice. Being helpful and willing to offer value without expecting anything in return is a powerful way to build genuine connections.

9. Follow Up Effectively

After the event, following up is critical to turning those introductions into lasting relationships. Within a day or two of the event, send a LinkedIn message or email to the people you spent time with. Mention something specific from your conversation to make it personal. If something relevant to your conversation comes up – like an article or a new piece of research – share it with your new connection to keep the dialogue going and add value.

You can also connect people where appropriate. If you talked to two people at the event who might benefit from knowing each other, make an introduction. This adds value to both parties and positions you as a connector in your network.

10. Reflect and Improve

After the event is over, take some time to reflect on how it went. Did you meet your goals? What worked well, and what could you improve for next time? Maybe you found that having specific questions prepared made you more confident, or perhaps you realised you need to work on ending conversations more gracefully.

Reflecting on your experiences will help you improve your networking skills for future events, making each experience more productive than the last.

11. Measure Success

If your company has sent you to an event and paid hundreds – or even thousands if you’ve travelled far – for you to attend, they’ll likely want to know how this has benefited them in the long run.

Perhaps you work for a B2B organisation that has been trying to get the attention of a particular company for years, with no luck. You’ve managed to speak to an employee of that organisation at an event, and they introduced you to the right contact. 6 months down the line, you’ve had a meeting with that contact, and they’ve decided to try out your services. Although the event might not have had an immediate impact on business, the relationships you nurtured there have brought you a customer.

Use your initial goals and your reflection to measure how successful the event was, both for you and your employer. Over time, you’ll have a clear image of the types of events that work well for you, allowing you to invest more time and resources into similar events in the future.

12. Stay Consistent

Networking isn’t a one-and-done activity, it’s about building and maintaining relationships over time. Attend events as often as you can and stay in touch with your contacts between events. Engaging on LinkedIn, sharing insightful content, and sending the occasional check-in message can all help keep your professional relationships warm.

The more consistently you put yourself out there, the more natural networking will become, and the more meaningful your professional network will grow.

Make Long Lasting Connections…

Networking at industry events can feel intimidating, but it can become a rewarding experience where you can learn, grow, and create opportunities. The key is to be genuinely curious about others, communicate clearly, and follow up thoughtfully. Remember that everyone at the event is there for the same reason – to connect. 

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