In addition to working remotely and in hybrid, the COVID era has also made virtual networking widespread; virtual conferences became a popular way to give access to a broader audience for previously exclusive events. Interestingly, in-person networking became even more popular, likely driven by our innate desire to establish a personal rapport, especially in an increasingly AI and tech-driven world. Option for both virtual and in-person event opportunities means that professionals should be selective and thoughtful about how to best use their time for each. Below are three outdated in-person networking advice in the modern world and what to do instead.
Outdated advice: Have your elevator pitch ready Why it's outdated: Attention spans are getting shorter, and people are more selective about how they spend their in-person time. A 60-second elevator pitch dominates the conversation, burdens the other person to reciprocate comparably, and doesn't provoke meaningful follow-up questions. In addition, most of your work history is (likely) available online through LinkedIn or company websites if the other party is interested in learning about your work history in detail. What to do instead: Prepare a one- to two-sentence headline that highlights your work while sharing enough details to intrigue a follow-up question. An example for a PR professional would be, 'I manage the external perception of ABC company, an exciting startup in agriculture located in Nebraska.' The other person now has multiple threads to follow up on based on their interest: sector, role, location, or startup space. This approach also allows both parties a quick and graceful exit if immediate interest is not there to connect.
Outdated advice: Go to industry-relevant events only Why it's outdated: The industry or functional proximity approach doesn't adequately take advantage of The Strength of Weak Ties theory, which stresses the importance of weak associations in transmitting information and
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