Networking is an essential part of building relationships with people within various industries. As someone who wants to be a designer and is branching into tech, I am open to learning from everyone. Last week, I had the opportunity to go to my first networking event. I decided to start small and attend a virtual tech networking event. I plan on attending in-person networking events in the future to get the full experience.

This networking event was insightful. It was set up as a live stream with the speakers on camera, and the attendees were able to communicate using the chat. I enjoyed this layout because I was able to focus on the speakers, but at the same time, I disliked it because I wasn’t able to see the faces of all the attendees in the chat. I felt a disconnect between myself and everyone else, but I believe it might just be because it was an online event. Regardless of the networking setup, the speakers did provide some useful insight about applying for jobs. 

The first point the speakers touched on was applying for jobs. They said it is best to be selective about the jobs that you apply for and spend more time tailoring your skills to that role. Then go on LinkedIn and identify the recruiters, connect with them, and send them a message. Let them know what you like about their company and what you can do for them to stand out from other candidates. For newcomers like myself, it is harder to get jobs, but it is not impossible. The best way to approach this situation is by being honest and transparent about your skillset. Don’t try to be someone you’re not, and don’t exaggerate your qualifications because they’ll show through your work. Most times, soft skills will make you stand out from the rest of the candidates because managers want to work with individuals who can effectively communicate and are easy to get along with. 

Overall, this networking event was insightful, but I would love to attend an in-person networking event to get the full experience. It is important to build relationships because a lot of job positions never make it online. Sometimes it’s not about what you know, but who you know that can help you find a job.