How to Host a Networking Meeting

Hopefully you belong to a local networking group with other folks in your field. Having a chance to host the group at your company is a good career move. It can bring you to the attention of other group members who will appreciate your hospitality and organizational skills. Three months from now, he hears about a job that would be perfect for you in a bigger organization. He tells you about it and you call them with his personal recommendation. Voila, your efforts pay off one hundred fold. Just as you become known as a contender, so you can identify others that may fit into your organization and you do the same for them when the time comes.

Instructions

1. Develop a meeting agenda that includes an overview of your company's business, a brief tour of the facilities and refreshments or a meal such as a lunch.

2. Enlist other members of your department to participate. Perhaps your assistant could give a computer presentation of your product line or other marketing information. Keep it brief and light so as not to bore your colleagues.

3. 

   Dress your best on the day of the event. Act like this is all part of a job interview and impress your guests with your organizational skills and ability to entertain the group. Keep it fun and interesting.

4. Prepare written materials for them to take with them. If you can give samples of your products or small giveaways--pens or hand squishies--the guests will have something fun to remember you by.

Tips & Warnings

• Go easy on the amount of information and the length of any tours. Too much is more than enough.

• 
  Details count on hosting an event like this. Have a great lunch or refreshment tray. Nothing works better than a good meal to impress people with your talents, even if all you did was call the caterer.

• Don't expect an immediate return on your time/energy investment. It will happen in time.