Tips for Networking in the Tech Industry

Over the next 3 months, I’m hosting 4 major events in France, UK, USA and KSA. Beforehand, I want to share my top tips on how to get the best out of networking. 1. Set Clear Targets Action: Make a hit list of the top 10 companies or people you need to meet. Research what they care about—know their wins, pain points, & what they’re hunting for before you walk through the door. Outcome: These conversations won’t just happen by chance. By doing your homework, you’ll turn a five-minute chat into a deal-building moment. Schedule meetings in advance, & after the event, send a tailored follow-up email that shows you were listening. 2. Take the Stage (Literally) Action: Get on the agenda. Whether it’s a keynote, panel, or fireside chat, nothing says “I’m the one to watch” like holding the mic. Use this time to address the industry’s biggest challenges & position yourself—& your company—as the answer. Outcome: Speaking builds instant credibility. It’s not just exposure; it’s authority. Post-event, share the highlights on LinkedIn & invite attendees to continue the conversation, turning an audience into a lead pipeline. 3. Own the Floor Action: Don’t just lurk—work the room. Engage with key exhibitors, ask questions, & position yourself as a resource, not just another pitch. Be direct but curious: “What’s your biggest challenge this year?” and “How can I help?” are powerful openers. Outcome: You’ll stand out as someone who listens. Take notes during conversations, & follow up within 48 hours with a personalised message. Not a generic “great meeting you”—send actionable insights or specific ideas that move the ball forward. 4. Host the Inner Circle Action: People bond better in a more relaxed setting than over Wi-Fi. Organise an exclusive dinner, roundtable, or cocktail event for a curated group of heavy hitters. Keep it intimate—this is about building relationships, not just showing off. Go easy on the heavy sell. Outcome: People remember who brought them value & connections, not who handed out free pens. Post-event, share any key takeaways & book one-on-one follow-ups to solidify what you started over drinks. 5. Hack the Tech Action: Use every tool at your disposal—event apps, LinkedIn, QR codes. Pre-event, reach out to attendees & book meetings. At the event, swap contacts digitally to keep things seamless, & use a CRM to track every interaction. Outcome: You’ll leave the event with an organised roadmap of leads, not just a stack of business cards destined for a desk drawer. Follow up strategically with segmented, value-driven emails & keep the momentum alive. The Bottom Line: Trade fairs & exhibitions aren’t just networking. Preparation, presence, & follow-up separate those who close deals from those who just collect swag bags. Be human. Don’t think of this as just a branding exercise but an opportunity for long term partnerships. Be genuine - your new contacts will become close contacts, if not friends. Make it count! #revenuegrowth

𝐒𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 '𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤' 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬? During our mentoring session, someone asked: "What's the least annoying, most effective way to network?" The panelists' answers surprised people. 𝟏. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 One panelist: "When someone reaches out and it's very obvious they've read my work or looked at my website and custom-tailored a message TO ME specifically - I always reply. 99% of messages I get are generic. If I can tell you sent the same message to 100 people, I won't respond." In the AI era, this matters more than ever. Everyone can send "personalized" emails at scale now. Manual cold emails get lost in the noise. 𝟐. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝟓𝟎 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 Conferences aren't just keynotes - they're networking goldmines. Vendor booths, poster sessions, coffee breaks. This is where real connections happen. Can't afford registration? Offer to volunteer. Many organizers give free entry in exchange for helping at the registration desk. Medical device conferences bring together startups trying to get noticed. Scientific conferences have vendor halls full of companies looking for talent. Go there. Talk to people. Ask for coffee meetings. 𝟑. 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 Your current or former mentors, classmates, research collaborators - these warm connections are exponentially more valuable than cold outreach. Ask your mentors to introduce you to people in their networks. But be specific: Not "I want to get into neurotech" but "I'm interested in clinical trial design for brain stimulation devices." 𝟒. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 People who successfully break into neurotech without traditional credentials got there by working harder early on. They didn't skip steps. They earned trust by delivering value first. 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: Quality over quantity, always. One thoughtful, personalized message beats 100 generic ones. One meaningful in-person conversation beats 50 LinkedIn connections. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝? 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬. 👇 𝐀𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝?

A SWE landed an interview at Capital One from a networking event. Not because he was the most outgoing person in the room. And not because he had a stacked resume. But because he came prepared. He knew what to say. Who to talk to. What questions to ask. He connected with several new people at the event. And one of them referred him to an open position 2 weeks later. Here's a simple guide so you can do the same: 1. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. → It's easier to talk when you actually care about the topic. Prioritize recurring meetings in your area. But one-off meetings are fine, too. 2. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁. → Check for Discord groups, Slack channels, or public guest lists. Shoot them a short message on LinkedIn like: "Saw you're attending [Event Name] next week. Would love to connect!" And chat with them a bit before the event. Seeing a familiar face makes it easier to break the ice. 3. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼?" → Most people respond with a job title and a company. BORING. Have an elevator pitch ready that sparks curiosity. "𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘦-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨." Now they have a reason to ask: "How are you doing that?" "What tech stack are you using?" 4. 𝗕𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. → Good conversations come from interest in others. • What were you hoping to get out of the event? • Was there anyone specific you were hoping to meet? • What's the most interesting project you've worked on lately? 5. 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. → A great conversation means nothing if you never see them again. Connect on LinkedIn or get their phone or email. Whatever they're comfortable sharing. Make it easy to stay in touch. 6. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 → The event is just an introduction. Send a follow up ASAP. Plan a coffee chat or set up a virtual meeting. If there's overlap, collaborate on something interesting. That's how real relationships are built. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆: Networking doesn't always reward extroverted people. It rewards people who show up with a plan. Try this at your next event. Let me know how it goes. P.S. Have you ever built a connection from a networking event?

Networking is not a “numbers game.” You don’t need 1,000 connections. You need 3 that turn into doors. Here are networking moves no one's talking about, But absolutely should be. Let’s go: 1. Be Someone’s Research Assistant (Unofficially) If you admire someone in your industry… read everything they’ve published. Then create a mini-insight report on it. How to do it: Find a professional who shares thought pieces or speaks at events Create a one-pager: Key takeaways from their work A quote you loved 1 original idea inspired by them Email them: “Hi [Name], I’ve been following your work on [topic] and wanted to say thank you—so I put together a quick reflection based on what I’ve learned. I’d love to know what you’re currently excited about. No pressure to reply!” Why it works: You become the person who listened deeply. That’s rare. 2. Offer to Practice a Presentation with Them Sounds odd? It’s genius. Everyone has something they’re prepping— a keynote, a team training, a class lecture. How to do it: Reach out to a professional speaker, teacher, or founder Say: “Hi [Name], I saw you’re presenting at [event]. I’m a recent grad trying to improve my public speaking. If you ever want someone to practice with or give feedback from a student’s POV—I’d be thrilled to help.” Best case? You get mentorship. Worst case? You become unforgettable. 3. Build a “Networking Project” Instead of a Spreadsheet Instead of a contacts list, create something with the people you’re meeting. How to do it: Pick a theme: “Women in Fintech” or “Immigrant Voices in Product” Every time you talk to someone cool, ask: “Would you be open to being featured in a short post or roundup I’m creating?” Publish it on LinkedIn with their name, tip, and photo (if approved) You just turned networking into content. And you just helped them build their brand too. 4. Show Up in Their DMs... But Only After You Show Up in Their Comments (3x) It’s like playing a slow, respectful game of ping-pong. How to do it: Identify 5 people you really want to connect with Turn on notifications for their posts Leave value-packed comments 3 times Then message them: “Hey [Name], I’ve been learning a lot from your posts—especially your take on [X]. Would love to connect and hear your story sometime if you're open to a quick Zoom or coffee.” This warms them up, so you’re not a random message in the void. Final reminder: Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional. It can feel like helping. If you’re still reading this, try one this week. Even if it feels weird. Because they might. And that might change everything. #May2025Grads #JobSearchJourney #CreativeNetworking #GradLife #NetworkingWithoutCringe #HumanConnection #CareerMoves #InternationalStudents #LevelUp

🤝 Networking in Germany: It’s More Than Just Job Hunting! In a recent poll, you voted that, besides finding the right companies, your biggest challenge is networking. Here’s how you can expand your network and find hidden job opportunities: 🔹 1. Join Industry Events & Meetups ✅ Tech conferences (e.g., Bits & Pretzels, OMR, Web Summit) ✅ Startup events (e.g., Berlin Startup Night, Hamburg Startups) ✅ Meetup.com events in your industry (IT, finance, marketing, consulting) ✅ Local Chamber of Commerce or professional networking events 💡 Tip: Many companies hire through referrals, so even a casual conversation at an event could lead to an opportunity! 🔹 2. Use LinkedIn the Right Way LinkedIn is a place to build relationships. ✅ Follow professionals in your field and comment on their posts ✅ Send personalized connection requests ✅ Join LinkedIn groups relevant to your expertise ✅ Share your own knowledge (projects, industry insights, trends) 💡 Tip: Instead of writing, "Hi, can you help me find a job?", try: "Hi [Name], I see you're in [industry]. I’m new to Germany and would love to exchange insights. Let’s connect!" 🔹 3. Get Involved in Sports & Hobby Circles 🏀🎨🎸 Networking isn’t just professional—it’s also social! Some of the best connections happen in hobby groups and sports clubs. ✅ Join a local gym, running club, football team, yoga group ✅ Sign up for art classes, book clubs, language meetups ✅ Play in a band or music group ✅ Volunteer for local events & organizations 💡 Why? Germans value trust and long-term relationships. If people know you personally, they’re more likely to help you professionally. 🇩🇪 Bonus: You can also practice your German while meeting people. Even basic German can help you integrate, build trust, and access more job opportunities. 🔹 4. Use the “Coffee Chat” Strategy ☕ Many people land jobs through casual conversations. ✅ Reach out to professionals in your industry ✅ Invite them for a 15-20 minute virtual coffee chat ✅ Ask about their career path, industry trends, and advice ✅ Focus on learning & relationship-building, not just job searching 💡 Tip: People remember genuine conversations. If they hear of a job opening, they might think of you first! 🔹 5. Explore Online Communities & Hidden Job Markets Many job leads come from WhatsApp, Slack, or Facebook groups. 🔹 Slack communities: Berlin Tech Workers, Startup Jobs Germany 🔹 Facebook groups: “English Jobs in Germany” / “Expats in [city]” 🔹 Internations.org: Great for meeting professionals in Germany 💡 Tip: Actively engage in discussions. The more visible you are, the more opportunities will come your way! 🌍 Final Thought: Networking is not just about job hunting—it’s about integrating, building trust, and forming connections. When you participate in events, hobbies, and professional communities, you naturally expand your opportunities. #Networking #JobSearch #Germany #CareerTips #ExpatLife #LinkedInNetworking #Integration

🙅♂️ The 5 Biggest Networking Mistakes (and How to Fix Them): Most people struggle with networking because they only reach out when they need something. Networking has been instrumental to my career—breaking into tech sales, securing referrals, and helping others land jobs at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Snowflake, Databricks, and Microsoft. Here are five common networking mistakes and how to avoid them: 1. Reaching Out Only When You Need Something The best networking happens when there’s no immediate ask. Engage with people’s content, share insights, and offer help before ever making a request. 🔹 Who to follow: Nick Cegelski, Jen Allen-Knuth, Justin Welsh 2. Sending Generic Connection Requests If your request says, “I’d love to add you to my network,” you’re doing it wrong. Mention a shared interest, a mutual connection, or why their work stands out to you. A simple, “Really enjoyed your post on [topic]—would love to connect” goes a long way. 🔹 Who to follow: Ashleigh Early, Carole Mahoney 3. Neglecting Follow-Ups One conversation isn’t a relationship. Following up can be as simple as, “Thanks for your advice on [topic]. I applied it and saw [result].” Most people don’t do this, which makes you stand out. 🔹 Who to follow: Jeff Bajorek, Anita Nielsen, Amy Volas 4. Not Leveraging Your Existing Network Your next opportunity is more likely to come from a former classmate, ex-colleague, or past interviewer than a stranger. Stay in touch, reconnect, and don’t just rely on cold outreach. 🔹 Who to follow: Todd Caponi, Christine Rogers, Josh Braun 5. Not Setting a Networking Goal Networking shouldn’t be random. Set a simple habit: One new connection per week One virtual coffee chat per month One industry event per quarter 🔹 Who to follow: Amy Franko, Lori Richardson, Jason Bay The best opportunities come from who you know AND who knows you. 💎 What’s the best networking advice you’ve ever received? Drop it in the comments. #Networking #CareerGrowth #TechSales #LinkedInTips

The best time to network is way before you need a job (I ignored this advice & I seriously paid for it) In my 20s, I joined a startup with a mentally & emotionally abusive founder. I ended up isolated far from everyone I cared about in a city I hated with not one connection outside of the company. I wanted to leave, but I didn't have a network, so I took the first job I could find, even though it was a 5x pay cut. It took years to recover. I see too many people making the same mistake I did: They wait until it's too late to build a network. The best time to build a network was yesterday. The second best time is today. Here's 12 ways I've built my network & you can, too: (Grab this PDF & my free network tracker here: https://lnkd.in/ejH2w3XM) 1/ Join alumni committees and volunteer for projects ↳ Active volunteers get insider access to job openings before they're posted publicly 2/ Connect your connections to each other regularly ↳ Become the go-to person who makes valuable introductions that change careers 3/ Turn everyday encounters into networking opportunities ↳ Your hairstylist, trainer, and barista all know people looking for talent 4/ Skip huge conferences for smaller industry meetups ↳ Smaller events mean actual conversations instead of business card exchanges 5/ Build your personal board of directors intentionally ↳ Offer to help with their projects first and they'll open doors for you later 6/ Join hobby groups outside your industry completely ↳ Book clubs, board game enthusiasts, even brunch! 7/ Start a monthly coffee chat with 4-5 peers ↳ Small mastermind groups share insider opportunities and honest career advice 8/ Volunteer where leaders in your field already serve ↳ Helps connect to people with similarly aligned values 9/ Host casual meetups at accessible coffee shops ↳ Being the organizer positions you as a connector people want to know 10/ Attend free public talks at libraries and universities ↳ These attract intellectually curious professionals who value continuous learning 11/ Join active Slack communities in your field ↳ Answer other people's questions before you ask to build credibility 12/ Get involved in professional association committees ↳ Committee work creates working relationships that turn into job referrals Focus on building genuine relationships. One meaningful connection a week is 52 a year. I make it a point to build one new connection a day. Which of these tips will you implement next week? Grab this PDF & my free network tracker here: https://lnkd.in/ejH2w3XM ♻️ Repost to help your network connect 🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily career growth

Conference season is here. Here’s everything I know about networking that actually moves your career forward: 1. Arrive early—the best convos happen before the agenda starts. 2. Don’t cling to colleagues. This isn’t high school. 3. Your badge is a conversation starter, not a shield. 4. Coffee queues > keynotes. 5. Skip a session for a powerful 1:1. 6. Never eat alone. 7. Ditch the pitch. Lead with curiosity. 8. “What brings you here?” still works. 9. Business cards are back—make them sleek. 10. Or use your LinkedIn QR code. 11. Compliment their talk, not their title. 12. Introduce others mid-convo. 13. One quality connection > 20 forgettable ones. 14. Take notes. You won’t remember “Julia from Biotechland.” 15. Dress like you're already on stage. 16. Don’t pitch. Listen. Share. Follow up. 17. Use breaks to spot who you want to meet. 18. Yes, the elevator pitch works in elevators. 19. Say hi to speakers. With something real to say. 20. If you say “Let’s connect,” mean it. 21. Prep 2–3 go-to questions. 22. The afterparty is where real deals begin. 23. Talk to the lone attendee—they’ll thank you. 24. Smile. Energy > job title. 25. Follow up within 48 hours. 26. “How can I help?” beats “Here’s what I do.” 27. Take a breather, but don’t vanish into your phone. 28. Be present—not just collecting contacts. 29. Be first to say hello. 30. Walk away from energy drainers. 31. Find your people. 32. Ask for advice, not just opportunity. 33. Bring mints. (Seriously.) 34. Tag people while you're still there. 35. Add a personal note in your follow-up. 36. Scan the agenda. Target wisely. 37. Your posture speaks first. 38. Don’t hover. Approach with purpose. 39. Ask what they want from the conference. 40. Snap a photo together. It gives you a reason to reconnect. 41. Don’t get too comfortable. Keep moving. 42. Pack water, a notebook, and good vibes. 43. Escape boring convos with a graceful intro to someone else. 44. Ask deeper: “What’s the boldest idea you’ve heard today?” 45. Don’t sell your product. Sell your passion. 46. Know your story in 3 clear sentences. 47. People forget logos. Make them remember you. 48. One good follow-up can change your career. 49. Wear comfortable shoes. Trust me. 50. Smile at the people no one else is talking to. That’s where the magic happens. Ready.🎯 Go. 🚀 Let’s make this conference season count. See you at: 📅 OCT Europe – April 29–30, 2025 | Barcelona, Spain 📅 Swiss Biotech Days – May 5–6, 2025 | Basel, Switzerland 📅 PCMG Annual Assembly – June 10–12, 2025 | Málaga, Spain

It’s Conference Season: Do This Before You Attend👀 Here are 5 things I highly recommend doing ahead of any tech conference if you want to walk away with more than just swag: 💼 1. Submit your resume to the event portal
If the conference shares attendee resumes with sponsors, use that. It’s a chance to get on someone’s radar before you even say hello. 🔎 2. Check the sponsor list and highlight your target companies
Go in with a plan. Knowing who you want to talk to helps you skip the small talk and focus your energy on real opportunities. 🗣 3. Have your elevator pitch ready
Conferences move fast. You should be able to confidently say who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for—in 15 seconds or less. 🖥 4. Update your professional profiles
Assume everyone you meet will look you up. Make sure your LinkedIn, portfolio, and resume reflect the version of you you’re pitching. 📱 5. Make your digital business card your lock screen
It eliminates awkward fumbling and makes exchanging info seamless. Just one scan and boom—connected. Conferences are too valuable to just “see what happens.” Go in with a strategy, show up with intention, and follow up like it’s your job. #RenderATL #ConferencePrep #NetworkingTips #TechEvents #CareerMoves #BlackInTech ——————————————————————— 🙋🏾♀️Hi, I’m Naya! ✨I share tips & insights for new and aspiring tech professionals 🤓Follow for daily tips & insights