What do you do if you want to connect with HR professionals at conferences and seminars?

1 Prepare Ahead

Before setting foot in the conference hall, take time to research the event, the speakers, and the attendees. Knowing the background and interests of HR professionals you aim to connect with can give you conversation starters and help you make a memorable impression. If there's a list of attendees or a mobile app for the event, use it to identify who you want to meet and why. This preparation shows that you value their time and have a genuine interest in what they bring to the table. Crafting a succinct and compelling personal pitch can also help articulate your value proposition clearly when you meet new contacts.

2 Engage Actively

Once at the event, actively participate by asking questions during sessions and contributing to discussions. This visibility can pique the interest of HR professionals in the audience who may seek you out for a deeper conversation. Use breaks and social events to approach speakers and attendees. Remember, your goal is to start a dialogue, so be curious about their work and share insights from your own experience. Active engagement demonstrates your enthusiasm for the HR field and can lead to more meaningful exchanges than passive attendance ever could.

3 Use Social Media

Social media platforms like LinkedIn can be powerful tools for connecting with HR professionals before, during, and after conferences. Before the event, post about your attendance to alert your network and join any relevant event groups or hashtags. During the conference, share insights and photos to engage with others online. After the event, connect with the people you met and continue the conversation. This multi-touch approach ensures that you remain on their radar and can help turn brief encounters into lasting connections.

4 Offer Value

When networking with HR professionals, focus on offering value rather than just seeking benefits for yourself. Share relevant articles, introduce them to contacts in your network, or offer insights into mutual challenges. This approach not only endears you to new connections but also sets the stage for a reciprocal relationship. By being generous with your knowledge and resources, you position yourself as a valuable member of the HR community, someone others will want to keep in their network.

5 Follow Up

Following up is perhaps the most critical step in networking. After the conference, reach out to the HR professionals you've met with personalized messages. Reference specific conversations you had to jog their memory and suggest a next step, such as meeting for coffee or a virtual catch-up. Timely follow-up keeps the momentum going and shows that you are serious about building a professional relationship. Ignoring this step can render all your networking efforts at the conference futile.

6 Stay Consistent

Networking is not a one-off activity; it requires consistency. Continue to engage with your new HR connections by commenting on their posts, congratulating them on professional milestones, and sharing relevant content. Over time, these repeated interactions build trust and familiarity, transforming initial connections into strong professional relationships. Consistency in your networking efforts demonstrates your commitment to the HR community and can lead to more opportunities in the future.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?