Networking is vital when you are at the NAFSA Conference. It is essential to network with other participants of the conference which will help you generate interest in your service or product. For a young professional, Networking is one of the most important things in advancing your career prospects.It may seem a difficult task at first; however, if a few basics for networking are taken care of, then the
job becomes much easier.

If you have the idea that networking is all about self-promotion, then you are wrong. Instead, it is all about building a relationship and about creating a positive experience for all those involved. Programs like First-Timers Orientation, Knowledge Community (KC) Open Meetings and Member Interest Group (MIG) are some of the events where you can connect to people from diverse backgrounds.

Following are a few tips which you can use for your advantage while networking:

• Draw up a plan. Use your skills on online platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter and find out about
  prospects and create a list of people you want to meet.The scheduling tool NAFSA 2016 Mobile Conference App and Online Planner will make networking and agenda building easier for you. This will give you an opportunity to reach out to prospects and set up meetings with them online.

• While at your booth, reach out to people passing by and don’t wait for them to come to you. Ask them questions and engage them in a conversation and lead it towards their needs and the solutions your organization can provide. For this you should be open to talk to strangers comfortably.

• Be it informal or formal, within your organization or outside it, within your field or outside it, no matter when a networking opportunity arises, it’s important to be prepared to make good conservation and listen.

• Focus on quality and not quantity. Having meaningful conversation with five to seven people will be more valuable than meeting fifty random people without any purpose. These high-quality interactions will help you create a continued relationship.

• Keep business cards handy as you will exchange a lot of them while networking. Also, once you get a business card from others make sure you jot down details about how you met the person. During follow up these details will help you remember your conversation when you are ready to connect with the individual again.

• Follow up within a week of the conference. Avoid LinkedIn generic request stating: “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” Instead make use of the information you had noted on the back of the card and send a more personalized greeting stating your interest in taking the conversation on the topic, further. A request with a personalized greeting is not only more genuine, but is also better received.

Keeping these tips in mind will help you make the most of the conference and enhance your prospects.

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