Director of Employer Outreach
Law Career Services
There is no way around it - an overwhelming majority of us feel apprehensive about speaking with new people. Part 2 of our networking series discusses methods for overcoming those nerves that creep up before a professional networking event. Here are a few tips that were offered by GGU alums during the LCS sponsored event “Leveraging Your Network to Create Professional Opportunities.”
To alleviate the anxiety you may feel about networking, try the following:
• Set small goals. When attending an event, establish a goal of having substantive conversations with three new people. Don't pressure yourself to meet every single person in the room.
• Ask questions. Attorneys love to talk—about their work, experiences, personal interests, and more. Get them talking about any of these, and make sure that you maintain eye contact, smile, nod, and ask follow-up questions to keep the person engaged. By the end of your conversation the other person will walk away with a positive impression, even if they did the majority of the talking.
• Bring a friend. Ask a friend or classmate to accompany you to an event. Split up once you arrive then check-in periodically to discuss your experiences.
Finally, remember that being uncomfortable is good! It is a sign you are continuing to grow by challenging yourself to exceed your prior boundaries.
Click here to read Part 1.
