đ¤ How to make the most out of a networking event
Get ready to meet your future employers, co-workers, and industry mates
Hello friends! đ
Welcome to this ⨠networking edition ⨠of the SportsGrad Newsletter. Each week we take a deep dive into âhow to get a job in sportâ.
Meetup season is fast approaching and if youâre not the most natural networker? Donât worry, weâve all had those pre-event nerves - check out our best tips to make the most out of a networking event belowđ
Before we begin, have you got your Meetup tickets?
Theyâre coming up quickly (beginning next week!) to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane & Perth. If youâre a SportsGrad or SportsGrad Pro Member, you get a discount.
And if youâre not yet a member, this is your exclusive opportunity to buy a Membership on the night. It includes guaranteed access into the community and weâll take $50 off⌠so your meetup ticket is basically free đ
Check it out.
đ¸ Discount for members below! đ¸

How to make the most out of a networking event đ¤
Meetup events are designed so that you can network in a comfortable and relaxed environment, meet epic people and take your career forward.
Weâve put together our best tips to make the most out of a SportsGrad Meetup! Looking forward to seeing you there đ¤
1. Do your research and be genuine đĽ
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 theyâre up to. Use this to form your questions. For exampleâŚ
âI saw that you worked at the FIFA Womenâs World Cup, how was it?â, or âI saw that youâve just moved down from Queensland, how are you finding it?â
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, youâll make them feel appreciated for the work theyâre 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 đ
Youâve 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, hereâs a few goals that might fit your situation:
Youâve just entered the sport industry, and donât know many people? Set a goal to meet 10 new people.
You attended the last SportsGrad meetup, and havenât 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 đ
Nervous to come along on your own? Reach out to a friend, and ask if they want to come along with you.
This way, youâve always got someone you can go back to, as well as someone who can introduce you to people that theyâre networking with.
Additionally, reach out to someone you know who is already going along, and ask if they want to catch up beforehand! Maybe youâve met once before, or youâve been reacting to each otherâs posts back and forth on LinkedIn⌠ask if they want to grab a drink before, and then head to the meetup together!
For example, âHey XYZ, I saw that youâre heading to the SportsGrad Melbourne Meetup! Any chance youâd want to grab a drink beforehand? Looking forward to seeing you there.â
4. Write a list of names, and follow up âď¸
Youâll 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 youâve solidified that network - donât want to let all your good work go to waste!
For example, you can message your new connection Vi, âHey Vi, it was great to meet you last night - Iâd love to catch up sometime to further chat about your experience working with UniSport (and the Bulldogs)! Let me know when youâre free and we should grab a coffeeâ.
Thatâs it! Donât 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 youâve been thinking about grabbing a membership!)
Thatâs all for now, grab a ticket and weâll see you there!
See you there! đ
đ¸ Discount for members below! đ¸
Get a taste of what a SportsGrad meetup is like -
Oops! You need to be at least a SportsGrad 'Learn' Member for access
'Learn' Membership is to help you quickly find your place in the sports industry with information about pathways to (almost) every job in sport- kind of like Netflix for jobs in sport. Plus connect and learn from other members with lifetime access to the SportsGrad Discord. If you're not sure what you want to do with your career, this is the perfect place to start.
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"SportsGrad Superchargers your development" - Brant Hubber:
- ⢠AFL, Partnerships Coordinator (Member since 2021)