Guest Post: 5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Networking Events

RealNetworks’ Janae Love Shares Five Tips for Fostering Your Security Industry Community.

I spent the first half of my first year in the industry feeling alone while trying to immerse myself in security, as my friend Benji Bolick would say, “drinking from the firehose.”

Just before attending ISC West 2023, I learned about SIA RISE, and this is where I’ve found community and opportunity. I’ve been invited to so many fun networking events and joined a community of young professionals and mentors who have changed my life this year. So, from one young professional to another, here’s what I learned.

1. Engage on LinkedIn

If you haven’t noticed yet, you will soon – the security industry thrives on LinkedIn. For starters, you can follow relevant industry pages, people associated with your company, company partners and so forth. This will expand the content on your feed, and you’ll become familiar with what solutions, products and/or services they provide. It’s important to engage with content, starting with what resonates for you. Commenting or reposting your thoughts is an easy way to work up to in-person networking skills. When attending networking events, it helps if you’ve had prior interactions, even if briefly in a thread of comments. Reacting to posts also shows up on your connections feed, allowing people to see what you’re finding insightful or interesting. This is another way to open future conversations.

2. Prepare for the Audience You’re Meeting

We may not always know who will be in attendance, but we usually have a general idea of the audience, be it young professionals, potential clients, business partners, colleagues, etc. Prior to the event, think about the message you want to share with others, what your goal(s) is, and what you want to get out of the event. Is it new friends with similar interests? A new lead? Do you want to learn more about a specific topic? It’s important to walk into the event in the right mind set to make the most out of your time.

3. Always Be Open-Minded and Willing to Listen

If you’ve ever been to any sort of gathering or event, you know that not everyone in the crowd is like-minded, and that’s okay! Networking events can provide a diverse environment which allows us to learn and grow. It’s important to listen to other perspectives, as you may be surprised by someone’s insight. Listening also enhances communication skills and our ability to understand a topic on a deeper level. We all have different experiences and whether it’s your first networking event or your 20th, there’s always something new to learn and something new to share.  

4. Break the Ice: Ask Questions

Just as you prepare for the audience you’re meeting, it’s also a good idea to prepare some conversation starters. When networking, I believe that it’s a balance of getting to know people personally and professionally. The better you get to know someone on both levels, the better you can understand them, their personality, what interests them, their goals, etc.; it goes hand in hand. Some examples include:

• “What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
• Do you have any hobbies?
• Where was the last place you went on vacation?
• What do you love about your job?
• How did you get into the industry?

5. Introduce Yourself to a Veteran in the Industry

This last tip requires some research. Remember how I talked about engaging on LinkedIn? Once you’ve become familiar with a few people and other companies in the industry, you’ve likely seen a few of the same people pop up from time to time. It’s usually because they’re very engaged in the online community, sharing resources or discussion topics. These are the “veterans” I’m talking about. I know it can be intimidating to introduce ourselves sometimes, but I promise you, no one is going to bite. Chances are you’ll have a great conversation followed by being introduced to other new faces. This is how more doors are opened and more opportunities to get involved present themselves.

Relationship building is important in every industry, and it’s the start of any friendship or business opportunity. In my experience, I’ve been fortunate to build several meaningful relationships, and I’ve learned much more about security and how to build upon personal and professional development. It led me to the RISE community, and my incredible mentor in the SIA Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) program. I highly recommend getting involved in online communities and attending as many networking events as possible both virtually and in person. Happy networking!

This blog post originally appeared in the SIA RISE community‘s RISE Together newsletter.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.