Let's face it: Career networking is not exactly the funnest thing in the world. Putting yourself out there can be a very stressful thing, which makes many job seekers want to do all they can to avoid it. This is ultimately to their detriment, as networking is a vital part of the job search.
The first thing you need to do to reduce the pressure is to remember you go to networking events not only to receive help but also to give it. Too many job hunters go to these events thinking it's their one opportunity to make new contacts, which sets the stakes at an unreasonably high level. If you change your mindset so that you recognize you are there to contribute and get any help that is available, you will feel less stressed, which will ultimately boost your chances of making solid contacts.
On a similar note, you should not appear desperate when talking to attendees. People have different definitions of this, but one thing to look out for is making the main purpose of your conversations to get something. You should be getting to know the other attendees with talk about work flowing naturally from the conversation. People don't like to feel like they are only being talked to because the other person wants something.
Finally, act naturally. You definitely need to prepare before you attend events, but you don't want to come off as scripted. Being real is the key to getting the best responses from other attendees, as people have a tendency to want to help others who they think are being straightforward.
None of these tips are guaranteed to make you absolutely love career networking if you already don't enjoy it. But hopefully they will make you tolerate more than you did before.
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