Hey there! You made it to the next blog in my Professional Networking Mistakes that every Millennial should Avoid blog series! This one is relatively short but one of the more important topics we’ll cover! So my question is, are you a “Wing It” Millennial? I hope not, but if you are we’ll fix that in 500 word or less! Don’t Wing It! A successful networking event can make the difference in making your next big career move and remaining stuck! I wouldn’t take a chance by relying on luck and charm! Sure, some of us were blessed with amazing social skills at birth, but that’s not all off us, myself included! If you’re like me you need to spend time preparing for a networking event so ensure you’re successful. Reasons not to Wing It: 1. Appearing unprepared 2. Appearing unintelligent 3. Appearing unprofessional All of these things make a lasting impression that you are NOT the right person for the job just based upon social skills. At that point, there is nothing on your resume that can help you – Judgement has been passed! But lets not stress about this! Lets address three great ways that you can make sure you’re prepared for your next networking event!     3 Ways to Prepare for your next Networking Event! 1. Elevator Speech We’ve already discussed why it’s important to have an elevator speech or pitch for professional advancement. However, just creating one does not guarantee a successful connection. The elevator speech must be well rehearsed, conversational and targeted. That means that you shouldn’t just write one down and declare you’re done. You need to practice your elevator speech so that you can deliver it in your sleep. You may feel that you’ve mastered your speech, but when you’re introducing yourself to a VIP, you might feel nervous, intimidated or frazzled. A poorly rehearsed elevator speech will reveal itself at this very moment BUT if your elevator speech is like second nature you’ll roll right through it like nothing happened. Make sure you’re prepared by rehearsing this to yourself, to a friend or a colleague. 2. Interview Questions Now that you’re past the elevator speech, the worst (and most awkward) part is over. Now you are on to the veiled interview questions. Yes, I said it! Every question that comes next, even if its “what do you do for fun” is an interview question and should be treated as such. That means before going to any networking event, you need to prepare your interview questions as though you were going to a job interview. This is especially true if you are speaking to recruiters or hiring managers. Of course it is less formal and may not be weighed as heavily, but your answers will make a difference between leaving your resume in the “to be filed” stack or added to the “for future consideration” stack. 3. Mental Preparation Ensuring that you are mentally prepared for a networking event is one of the most important ways you need to prepare. Especially if you are like me, a bonafide introvert! Networking can be stressful, uncomfortable and mentally draining. Since the stakes can be high at times, you need to go into any networking event with a game plan and a commitment to promptly exit your comfort zone. Make sure that: • You’re ready to sell yourself • You have a strategy • You are ready to overcome shyness. • You have a mental checklist of everything you need to do like: shake hands, deliver speech, offer resume etc. Key Takeaway: A successful networking event requires prior preparation. I hope that you will take these tips and apply them to your next networking event. I guarantee that when you adequately prepare for a networking event, you’ll be able to make better connections and advance to the next level in your career. If you haven’t visited my other networking blogs, you can visit them here: www.hrformillennials.com/blog Click below for the free Networking Blueprint Click Here