Networking Event Plan: Objectives, Preparation, and Follow-up

1. Find a Professional Networking Event

The objective of this part of the assignment is to select a networking event to attend, make a plan for how you will make your networking efforts successful, and attend the event.For this part of the assignment you need to:
(1) Find a networking event that you would like to attend.
• Event requirements:
o Must be a professional event (i.e. Chamber of Commerce, Advertising Club of Edmonton, Business Connex, Captial Ideas, etc.). So, you can't just go to the bar and talk to a bunch of random people. You also can't count a family dinner as a networking event.
o There should be ample opportunity to meet many different people.
o Most of the people at the event should be people you do NOT already know.
(2) In a professional 3 - 4 page document, provide the following:
• What are your networking objectives? (e.g. Develop business contacts, Find a job, etc.)
o These objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable,
realistic, and time bound (SMART).
• A description of the event you have chosen to attend.
• An explanation of why you have chosen this specific event. o How will this event help you meet the objectives you stated above?
o Who will be there and how do they add value?
• How do you plan to prepare for this event?
• What is your plan to be a "good" networker?
(3) Attend your chosen event and network your butt off.
• As a minimum you are expected to have a meaningful contact 2separate individuals
(2) Event Summary & Follow-up (10%)
The objective of this part of the assignment is to reflect on the event and follow-up with the contacts you made. What went well and what improvements could be made?For this part of the assignment you need to:In a professional 5 - 6 page paper, summarize your experience.Event Summary:
• Briefly summarize the event you attended.
• Describe how your objectives were or were not met.
• What went well and why?
• What did not go well and why?
• What would you do differently next time?
• Describe your strategy for engaging in conversations. Was your strategy successful?
• Was networking more difficult / or easier than you thought it would be?
• Would you classify this event as a success? Why?
• Anything else you found interesting about your experience.