Whether you’re a job seeker or a gainfully employed professional, you’ve probably been told before how important it is to network. Most career opportunities are uncovered through the power of networking, not to mention valuable contacts and connections made.

However, as one of the top employment agencies in Sacramento, California, we know that not everyone is a natural networker. In fact, most of us are not.

After all, who relishes the idea of walking into a room full of strangers and making small talk for hours? The fact of the matter, though, is that networking works. You never know who you’ll meet or what important opportunities you’ll find out about.

To help you ease your networking stress and get the most from your efforts, here are some tips to follow:

Set a goal.

When you attend an event, have an end goal in mind. What you trying to achieve?

• Are you looking for jobs in Sacramento, California?
• Do you want to make connections with colleagues in your industry?
• Are you interested in meeting vendors because you want to launch your own business?

Whatever the case may be for you, set a simple goal and aim to achieve it at the event.

Do your homework.

These days, details of most networking events are available online before the event. So take a look to see who’s speaking and what the topics will be about. By knowing what to expect ahead of time, you’ll feel more informed – and more comfortable.

Get connected ahead of time.

Besides web pages, many networking events also have pages on Facebook where you can learn more about the event and connect with other attendees ahead of time. This is a great way of making new friends that you can meet up with at the event.

Get there early.

It’s always easier to walk into an empty room than it is to enter a room packed full of strangers. So get there ahead of time and station yourself in an area where you can see who’s arriving. That way you can greet people you know as they walk in.

Have your elevator speech ready.

If you’re going to an event in search of jobs in Sacramento, California, have your elevator speech ready to go. Your elevator speech is basically a 30-second sound bite that highlights what you do and why an employer would be interested in hiring you. Also be ready to talk about relevant examples of positive contributions you’ve made with your past employers.

Be prepared.

Don’t forget business cards with your contact information. Also bring a small notebook with you for jotting down important notes and names of new contacts. You might think you’ll remember these details later, but chances are that you won’t.

And if you’re networking for a new career opportunity, give Pacific Staffing a call. As one of the leading employment agencies in Sacramento, California, we know where the top jobs are – and how to give you access to them.