For many of the world’s job seekers, event networking is well and truly back on the agenda. COVID put a swift(ish) end to in-person networking events, and now the veil has lifted, they’re more popular than ever.
This should be good news for veterans hoping to make the transition to a civilian career – event networking is a phenomenal way of growing your soft skills, connecting with industry leaders, and ultimately, uncovering potential career opportunities.
That said, networking of any kind can be massively daunting, even for veterans, who’ve typically spent several lifetimes conquering fears.
Here’s why event networking can help you enhance your career prospects, and why you needn’t be worried about it.
Explore New Opportunities
Most jobs aren’t advertised publicly. There are probably jobs out there you’ve never even thought about. You’d probably be an ideal fit for some of those jobs. Going to a professional networking event can broaden your perspective on career pathways, and in the best case, land you with a meaningful new role.
How? Say you attended a panel event on Green Technology – you’ll likely get some insights from leaders in the sustainability, tech, and green energy sectors. Those leaders will likely manage teams of their own, and they’ll probably speak about what kind of trends and challenges those teams are navigating currently. There are at least three opportunities to discover more about a potential career.
Whether you’ve had a civilian job before or you’ve only known life in the armed forces, the civilian working world changes quickly, and it can feel like you’re playing catchup, or starting again from the beginning. In many ways, you are, but you have the advantage of an unparalleled set of skills and experiences. Your military background will have prepared you for some of the best careers out there, it’s just a matter of finding where they are.
Building Relationships
It’s common to feel isolated as a veteran, especially when you’re hunting for a new job. Well, you’re not alone. There are tens of thousands of people who’re in similar boots to yours, and there’s a good chance some of them are attending networking events.
Events are a great way to build relationships, not just in the professional sphere, but in the veteran community too. There are some great veteran-focused events out there, and all it takes is a quick internet search to find them.
Platforms like Meetup, Eventbrite, and LinkedIn are ideal places to look for your next event, so make sure to check them out. Plus, it’s worth noting that networking events are often free to attend.
Beyond the Job Search
Veteran networking events aren’t all about finding a new job. You never know, you may meet your next mentor, someone who can guide you, advise you, and act as your confidant when you want to complain loudly about your boss.
You may form a lifelong connection, learn a vital interview tip, get signposted to a helpful resource, or find a decent corporate caterer for your next get-together.
It’s important to keep an open mind, and maybe check out some networking tips: https://hbr.org/2023/03/a-beginners-guide-to-networking.
Building Your Personal Brand
If you’re trying to build out your online profile (essential in today’s interconnected talent market), it’s worth posting about your event-going efforts – it’s a good opportunity to carry on the conversation after the event, and hopefully, connect with people from a different background.
LinkedIn is the best place to start building your professional profile, and it offers some easy connection options, so when you meet someone at an event, they can scan your profile’s QR code and you’ll be instantly connected. There’s a guide on how to enable it here.
Ex-Military Careers
We love a good event here at Ex-Military Careers, virtual, hybrid, and in-person – the more the merrier. If you want to get involved, contact the team here, we’re always up for platforming our veteran community.
