While the advantages of networking are obvious, it always seems to be a difficult task for me. I envy those who are naturally great at it. As outgoing as I am, I still get scared going to networking events alone. The awkwardness of going up to a stranger, trying to start a conversation and then keep the conversation naturally flowing and interesting is a lot of pressure. The worst part is ending the conversation and figuring out how to make your exit.
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way and that’s why Girls In Tech has decided to put a new twist on traditional networking with “speed networking.” We’ve come up with a unique format to not only make meeting people easier but also increase the number of people you meet.
So what’s different? I won’t give away all the secrets, but here’s the gist. We’re going to pair people up. You’ll have three minutes to get acquainted. During this time you can swap business cards and jot down notes about each other. You can speak about anything you want, but after three minutes, it’s on to the next. If three minutes isn’t enough, there will be plenty of time afterwards for more networking.
Sound like fun? Join Girls In Tech on Tuesday, June 9 for their first speed networking event at the YouNoodle office in San Francisco. You must pre-register for this event, so we can have an accurate count. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the event will start promptly at 6:45 p.m. Be sure to bring lots of business cards!
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