Thought networking events were a waste of time until last month

I used to skip every industry mixer because I figured it was just people handing out business cards and awkward small talk. Then I went to one in Austin back in October because a coworker pushed me into it. Ended up chatting with a guy from a different department who told me about an internal opening that wasn't even posted yet. I applied the next day, got an interview, and now I'm starting the new role next week. Has anyone else found a job through random conversations at these things?

3 comments

3 Comments

sanchez.mary11d ago

Is the free pen really the only thing people remember from these things? I went to one where the nametag stickers peeled off before I got to the second table. But yeah, that's how I got my last job too. Talked to some guy near the coffee station about how slow the wifi was, turns out he was a manager looking for someone who "gets technology." Now I'm the one resetting passwords for people at that company instead of just my own.

kevinc8411d ago

Thought networking events were a waste of time" - yeah, that's a pretty accurate description of most of them. I went to one in a hotel ballroom once where the only thing I got was a free pen that stopped working after two days. But I've heard stories like yours where someone casually mentions a job opening and suddenly it's a whole new career. Seems like the real trick is getting lucky enough to talk to someone who actually has something useful to say instead of just pitching their own startup. Maybe I'll give it another shot, but I'm bringing my own pen.

keith26411d ago

Yeah the pen thing kills me too but most people at those things are just as lost as you are, so maybe it's less about luck and more about asking the Right questions to find the helpers.