One of my favorite things about pursuing a creative career is that networking can actually be really exciting! I’ve been to a few creative events here in Portland and it always feels like the attendees are all on the same level, sharing their passions with each other, and seeing if they can benefit from each other’s services. It has more of a community feel than what I had originally imagined a networking event to be like. This week, we looked around for the best networking advice, including tips for starting events, attending them, and even following up afterward. I hope these posts inspire you to seek out some creative events, or even start your own!
1. This wonderful post on Ashlyn Writes covers all the bases of attending a live event, conference, or workshop. I love how much Ashlyn emphasizes the importance of engaging in authentic conversation. It really makes all the difference.
2. There are several ways to prepare for a networking event to ensure that you enjoy yourself and have some success getting your name out there. Check out this post on Boss Lady Bash for a few tips on how to prepare for a networking event.
3. Every now and then, a networking event will just be really awkward. And that’s okay! Read Career Girl Daily’s 4 ways to ‘kill’ it at your next networking event and make the most of your time even if it’s a little uncomfortable.
4. Interested in starting your own local event series? Ciera of Ciera Design has all of the best advice. Read her post on how to start a meetup group and be sure to check out her ebook as well!
Happy weekend! What are your Memorial Day plans?