Attending sports networking events is a must for anyone looking to break into the industry. These gatherings are the perfect opportunities for you to get some face time with sports business executives who have not only been in your shoes before but also have an expertise in an area of the industry that might intrigue you. The more of these events you are able to attend, the more contacts you will be able to make, which will increase your odds of knocking down that proverbial door. Here are 5 Don’ts that you should keep in mind at sports networking events:
1. Don’t stand in the corner - The main reason you go to networking events is to meet people. Don’t be that guy or girl who spends the majority of the event off to the side eating or drinking alone. I understand that you might feel shy or awkward striking up conversations with strangers. It can be intimidating. Make an effort to put yourself out there and be interested in other people. You never know when you are going to connect with someone who will open doors for you.
2. Don’t talk too much about yourself – Treat every encounter you have with someone as an opportunity to learn. While it is important to make sure others know who you are, you never want to be too over the top. Nobody wants their ear talked off. Make sure you are having a balanced conversation filled with insightful questions. As much as you might like tooting your own horn, people like to talk about themselves even more. Let them.
3. Don’t come unprepared – Depending on the event, you can often find out who else will be attending. This includes keynote speakers, panelists, event organizers, and other like-minded individuals. Do your best to obtain a list of confirmed attendees in advance. Google the people you think you would be interested in meeting. Learn about their background, and try to identify any shared interests, whether it is high school affiliation, college affiliation, or hobbies. This way you will not walk into conversations blind. If anything, your aspirational contacts will be impressed that you took the time to learn about them. Do your homework.
4. Don’t bring your resume - For one thing, you will have to carry it around in some sort of folder. Keep in mind that it will be a nuisance to deal with when you are holding a drink and get the opportunity to shake someone’s hand. People at these events want to converse about their personal lives and the sports business. The last thing they want is to have a piece of paper shoved in their face for evaluation. It is much more important to develop chemistry with a person that results in you getting his or her business card. Then, you can send your resume over and see if your new connection has the time to give you some tips.
5. Don’t forget to maintain eye contact and smile – There is nothing more annoying than talking to someone and watching his or her eyes dart around the room in search of someone else. Give your undivided attention to the person you are talking to out of sheer respect. Show your potential contact that you care about what he or she has to say. Complement your eye contact with a smile. This will increase your chances of being liked and make you feel more self-confident. After all, you are trying to advance your career. That is surely something to be happy about.
