Meetup Live

Recording: Networking in Tech

Learn how to shine among strangers and make contacts that will benefit you for years to come.

By Emily Trieste

Reviewed by Mary Garcia

It’s been a turbulent year for the tech industry. Between layoffs and tightened budgets, candidates seeking tech positions face fierce competition. Wondering how you can stand out among the many applicants for tech roles? We’re here to help. Throughout the coming weeks, we’ll be hosting events to help with resume writing, networking, and salary negotiating on Meetup Live.

We’re continuing our series with a lesson on networking. Watch this Meetup Live recording with Robin Hunt, co-founder of ThinkData Solutions and LinkedIn Learning course instructor, to learn how to shine among strangers (even if you’re shy!) and make contacts that will benefit you for years to come. You’ll hear advice on how to craft an effective introduction for all occasions, how to leverage body language to put your best foot forward, and how to spot the exits in a conversation.

Meetup would like to help the members of our community who have been affected by tech layoffs. Learn more about Meetup’s career resources including a free two-month Member+ subscription.

Main Takeaways:

Tip #1: Be prepared. You’re going to need an elevator pitch. An entrepreneur needs to be able to pitch their product effectively in the amount of time it takes to ride an elevator. When you’re at a networking event, you’re pitching yourself. You need to be prepared so your pitch is effective.
Tip #2: You need to be able to pitch yourself in various amounts of time. You can have a quick pitch of around 30 seconds, but you also need a 1- or even a 2-minute pitch.
Tip #3: Never stop revising your pitch. You do not have long to make an impression. You will make some impression, whether good, bad, or indifferent. Be sure to constantly revisit your pitch to reflect the impression you want to give.
Tip #4: Don’t waste an opportunity by not planning ahead. To help you learn how to introduce yourself prior to the networking event, I want you to take a minute to answer the following prompt: Imagine that you’re going to a networking event, and your goal might be to change your job, maybe get a new job or get more involved in your community. Grab a note on your phone, your desk, or on your computer, and write out an introduction of yourself as you would do it right now. After the minute of writing your pitch is up, read it back to yourself as if you’re the other person. Critique your pitch based on how you think the other person would feel after hearing it.
Tip #5: Be authentic. You may have heard the saying “It always comes out in the wash”. That means, if you’re not genuine and you’re not your authentic self, it will eventually be found out. When you read your introduction, ask yourself “Was I really being genuine or was I just writing something down that I thought I was supposed to write”? Only you know the answer to that.

Top Q&A Questions and Resources:

Any tips for fresh graduates or those of us with limited experience?
- The world is full of people with no work experience. It happens, it’s a stage of life. Focus on the work you have done that might be relevant to the situation. When you were in high school or college you likely focused on some type of project, you can talk about what you learned from that. Again, be authentic.
What is the best way to stay connected with the people we meet after the event is over?
- Always connect through LinkedIn, just don’t get your feelings hurt if they don’t connect back. Make sure you have the best LinkedIn profile and be sure to list the accomplishments you are most proud of. When you do connect with the other person, send them a note. This will spark their memory of where they met you and the conversation you had. It adds a personal touch.
If you walk in and everybody is in a small group, I find it hard to walk up and enter a group. What are your suggestions?
- First of all, when you go to tech networking events be the person who spots the circle and breaks it. It can be challenging, so I usually try to catch eye contact with one person in the hopes that they realize I’m standing there and they all open the circle. If you walk up, and the circle remains closed, exit and go find another. I ask us as professionals to stop closing in the circle because all of us are there for a purpose so let’s keep it open.