One of the most common things I hear when someone is considering starting a job search, or wanting to raise their visibility in their career and build their personal brand is:

“But Laurie, I hate networking!”

It doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert or an extrovert, most people would prefer to do almost anything else than go to a networking event.

Yet we know that building relationships is key to finding our next job and getting access to the best opportunities.

And networking events (conferences, job fairs, expo’s, meetups, alumni meetings …) are one of the best places to do this.

How to Stop Hating on Networking

In a recent call with my business coach, she talked about the idea of GIVE versus GET energy. For our purposes:

GET energy looks like:

• Let me say my best elevator pitch to this person.
• Who looks like someone who can help me on my job search?
• need to find someone who works at company X so I can get an interview.

GIVE Energy looks like:

• What brings you to this event?
• What is your biggest career challenge right now?
• Jane would be a great person for you to know. Let me introduce you.

When you are in GET energy you have this idea that you need to go to the networking event and tell as many people as you can about you and your job search. All you are thinking about is how do you say your elevator pitch in the

most concise and powerful way. They may have introduced themselves to you, but you have no idea what their name is because you were so focused on practicing your pitch!

Your underlying intention is about getting something from someone else.

No wonder no ones wants to network.

That sounds exhausting!

When you choose to align with GIVE Energy You Feel Energized

You look at every networking opportunity as a place that you can be of service.

GIVE energy is quite different than GET energy.

You do not have to be “on”.

You are not fretting about going up and introducing yourself because you are there to serve.

Someone might say to you, “Wow. We are out of time, and I did all the talking. I did not learn a thing about you.”

Then they suggest connecting on LinkedIn and setting up a time to chat next week. How great is that?

Or not. It is all OK. You are simply happy to have met someone new and learned about their background and ways you could be of help in the future.

When you are in GET Energy you are centering on you. When you are in GIVE Energy it is all about centering on the other person.

When you have an intention of giving you naturally take the focus off of you and put the focus on the other person.

As my coach said, you become the most INTERESTED person at the event instead of the one trying to be the most INTERESTING.

And that is how you feel energized building relationships at networking events.

YOUR HOMEWORK: Go find an event and become the most INTERESTED person there. Watch your energy – and your network – grow.

Career Alchemy Academy is a place of GIVE energy. Meet other women connected to tech and GIVE them ideas, support and introductions! Every month we have 1 hour set aside to network. Join the Waitlist today and learn more.