🤝 How to make the most out of a networking event

Hello friends! 👋

Welcome to this ✨ networking edition ✨  of the SportsGrad Newsletter. Each week we take a deep dive into ‘how to get a job in sport’.

Meetup season is fast approaching and if you’re not the most natural networker? Don’t worry, we’ve all had those pre-event nerves - check out our best tips to make the most out of a networking event below👇

Before we begin, have you got your Meetup tickets?

They’re coming up quickly (beginning next week!) to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Perth. If you’re a SportsGrad or SportsGrad Pro Member, you get a discount.

And if you’re not yet a member, this is your exclusive opportunity to buy a Membership on the night. It includes guaranteed access into the community and we’ll take $50 off… so your meetup ticket is basically free 😎

Check it out.

💸 Discount for members below! 💸

How to make the most out of a networking event 🤝

Meetup events are designed so that you can network in a comfortable and relaxed environment, meet epic people and take your career forward.

We’ve put together our best tips to make the most out of a SportsGrad Meetup! Looking forward to seeing you there 🤝

1. Do your research and be genuine 👥

Start with doing a quick look at the list of attendees via LinkedIn or Discord, and note down the people you want to meet. From here, do a quick stalk of their profile and find out what they’re up to. Use this to form your questions. For example… 

“I saw that you worked at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, how was it?”, or “I saw that you’ve just moved down from Queensland, how are you finding it?”

Doing your research helps you start your conversations from a more personalised place, and is an easy way to quickly build a relationship. If someone feels like another person took the time to learn more about them, you’ll make them feel appreciated for the work they’re doing.

Of course, this is the nicest form of stalking, and just the right dose of it will help you arrive prepared.

2. Have a goal in mind 💭

You’ve made the decision to purchase a ticket, but why? By being conscious of what you want to get out of a meetup, you can ensure that you reap the full benefits of them.

For example, here’s a few goals that might fit your situation:

• You’ve just entered the sport industry, and don’t know many people? Set a goal to meet 10 new people.

• You attended the last SportsGrad meetup, and haven’t caught up with anyone since? Set a goal to strengthen relationships with people you already know.

• Been working on a project, and want to share it with someone? Set a goal to get some feedback on it.

A purpose to attend will generate motivation to make sure you get the most out of it.

3. When in doubt, phone a friend 📞

Nervous to come along on your own? Reach out to a friend, and ask if they want to come along with you.

This way, you’ve always got someone you can go back to, as well as someone who can introduce you to people that they’re networking with.

Additionally, reach out to someone you know who is already going along, and ask if they want to catch up beforehand! Maybe you’ve met once before, or you’ve been reacting to each other’s posts back and forth on LinkedIn… ask if they want to grab a drink before, and then head to the meetup together!

For example, “Hey XYZ, I saw that you’re heading to the SportsGrad Melbourne Meetup! Any chance you’d want to grab a drink beforehand? Looking forward to seeing you there.”

4. Write a list of names, and follow up ☕️

You’ll be meeting a lot of new faces, and it can be easy to forget names and details. After connecting with someone new, take a minute to jot down their name, and a stand-out point from your conversation, so that you can reach out later - even if this means quickly ducking off to the bathroom!

After the meetup, you can shoot them a message, ensuring that you’ve solidified that network - don’t want to let all your good work go to waste!

For example, you can message your new connection Vi, “Hey Vi, it was great to meet you last night - I’d love to catch up sometime to further chat about your experience working with UniSport (and the Bulldogs)! Let me know when you’re free and we should grab a coffee”.

That’s it! Don’t forget, meetups are a chance to grab a casual drink with the industry and network in a relaxed environment - no need to treat it as a job interview! Smile, make a joke, and relax.

(plus, you can get early access and save some $$ if you’ve been thinking about grabbing a membership!)

That’s all for now, grab a ticket and we’ll see you there!

See you there! 💛

💸 Discount for members below! 💸

Get a taste of what a SportsGrad meetup is like -

Oops! You need to be at least a SportsGrad 'Learn' Member for access