Top Networking Tips from Experts: How to Make the Most of Conferences (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: So coming in as a student expert, the best thing thus far about this conference, yes technology is amazing, yes everything is very fancy and exciting, but to break it down the most valuable takeaway that I've had has actually been the network. I've been meeting some incredible people who I think could really benefit from what I'm doing. And so thus, I want to focus on that for today. How to network at a conference. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to network by going around and asking people about tips on networking at conferences. That's networking by networking, anyway it'll just be fun, let's just get into it. Alright now, what is your top tip for networking at a conference like this one?

Speaker 2: Alright, number one tip, this is very important, you'll never hear this anywhere else, follow the food. Alright, just go where the food is, hang out where the food and beer is, and talk to whoever is standing next to you. You'll be surprised what kind of conversations you have and what you learn.

Speaker 3: Alright, so skills for networking that you need to know, know the power of a firm handshake, a good smile, and great eye contact.

Speaker 4: I would suggest, don't always talk business, always have some sort of a topic at hand that is completely unrelated like, do you like lizards?

Speaker 1: Yeah, I do.

Speaker 4: Yeah? What do you like about them? Use social media to engage and connect with people that you may have never met before. So for me, what I tend to use is Slack, we've created a hashtag, AU2018 Slack channel, which we set up on Twitter, I've spotted and now I'm meeting and connecting with people that I've never met before.

Speaker 1: So there we have it, I guess my top tip for networking at a conference would be to be really interested in the other person, be more focused on what they're saying, rather than trying to get your message across. Take interest in other people, that's my top tip, and it works for me a lot.