Nu Skin Networking Event... What Worked and What Didn't

Yesterday I had the chance to visit Nu Skin's Provo campus and meet professionals from around the area. Needless to say, I was intimidated. I was the only undergrad there, and by far. All the other attendees were 30 years or older. However, I was able to learn some valuable lessons while interacting with all of the attendees.

Bring Business Cards

Nu Skin

First things first, when you have decided to go to a networking event, business cards are a must. It allows you to distinguish yourself from the others in the group, and also gives a reminder to those with whom you spoke who you are.

However, do not give out your cards right away. Give it some time. Something that I noticed is that most people were talking to each other for a good while, and after about 10 minutes did the cards start popping out. Honestly, they all started giving away their cards at almost the same time.

Talk to Others from the Get-Go
It is good to talk to one person for a good while, but be willing to spread yourself around. This is something that I wish I had done better. Once I got comfortable I did not want to talk to anyone else, and it most likely made me look awkward.

Talking to almost all of those that are there will give you better chances of meeting someone that can launch you into a new job or career. According to Russ Harington of the LDS Employment Resource Center, "you can either network, or not work."

Be Yourself
The last lesson that I learned was to be myself. I was having a hard time doing this because I felt so intimidated by the older folk. I didn't know how I should act; I didn't know what I could even bring to the table.

Being yourself includes being confident. Be confident in who you are and that who you are will be a great asset to any company. Know your reasons, have PAR stories to demonstrate that, and act natural. Networking is like an informal interview, you are being interviewed by all the attendees and you are interviewing them. Don't be afraid to ask questions and look for benefits.

Following these three ideas will help most to do well in a networking environment. Networking is a huge part of life, and whether you want it to do well in business, or to just be friendly and get to know others, it is an invaluable skill.