The Power of Networking Events

by Abrivia Recruitment

 

It’s a well-known saying that ‘People do business with people, not business’, which reinforces why it’s not always about who you are or what you know, it’s about who you know. In fact, we are more connected with each other right now, you and I, all thanks to the digital age we live in. Even trying to digest what has been accomplished in business through online communication is a remarkable task in itself. However, it cannot substitute networking in person as there will always be a need in the modern world.

Why? (You ask behind your computer screen whilst you are caught up drafting an email to a perspective business partner, or responding to a Linkedin InMail regarding a job opportunity)

Networking at it’s core brings people with similar professions and interests together for conferences, talks and meetings. Attending networking events on a regular basis provides you with an ample opportunity to interact and expand your sphere of influence with existing and future partnerships. In fact, research has shown time and time again that networking benefits those by broadening their knowledge, improving their capacity to innovate, increase advancement, leads to more business and job prospects as well as establishing long lasting relationships. Ron Burt, a renowned sociologist showed through his research that having a large open network is the best predictors of career success vs being in a closed network. This one variable can account for 50% of the predicted difference in career success.

In Dublin, there is a host of networking events happening every day in various industries. Speak to people in your existing network ask which events they recommend and attend themselves, look on websites such as meetup.com and Eventbrite. Having moved to Dublin quite recently myself I have set myself a target of attending one networking event per week. It’s easy once you identify groups you wish to be a part of! So far, it’s been great fun, I have widened my knowledge and I have met a number of interesting people on the way that I wouldn’t have sitting at my desk or binge-watching Netflix…

Go get yourself out there!