Speed Business Networking

I recently attended a mixer and was quite surprised as it turned out to be a Speed Networking event. It was quite fun. After a little research I found out that speed networking events are one of the fastest-growing forms of structured networking in the world. Major trade associations are incorporating speed networking events into their trade shows.

Traditional networking events can sometimes be unproductive as people tend to gravitate towards those they may already know, never getting the opportunity to meet others who could be great business contacts. In speed networking the environment is structured and attendees interact with many individuals that you may have never otherwise had the chance to network with. Since each face to face speed networking session lasts only a couple of minutes, you will not get stuck in an unwanted long conversation trying to figure out how to end a conversation.


I think this is a great way to meet people that you may not have otherwise crossed the room to meet. I think that speed networking can work if it's done the right way. It can be a fun, energetic and dynamic way to further your own goals of having a thriving, successful word-of-mouth-based business. The downside to speed networking is to thinks this is "all" a person has to do to network effectively. The key to making speed networking work, is to take the contacts made and develop them over time into "credible" relationships that lead to "profitable" referral partners.

Networking to obtain a job

Networking is a helpful and very useful way to help people get a job. Searching online, I read that The U.S. Department of Labor says this about how people obtain jobs:

5% find jobs through help-wanted ads on the Internet and in print publications;

24% obtain jobs through contacting companies directly -- the cold-contact method of job-hunting.

23% obtain jobs through such means as employment agencies, college career-services offices and executive-search firms.

The remaining 48% obtain their jobs through referrals -- that is word of mouth. How do they get referrals and find out about jobs through word of mouth? By networking.

There are several networking events each month around town that are free or very reasonably priced to attend. So don't overlook the networking way to increase your chances of landing that next job.