Charlotte, North Carolina, is home to some of the brightest and most innovative leaders in business, technology, and entrepreneurship—a reason why it was chosen as the location for the 2018 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit.
Additionally, from Jan. 16–Jan. 20, 2018, it will be home to the 4th Annual Professional Networking Week. The event is hosted by the Charlotte Professional Network, founded by Carlos V. Davis of Stand & Deliver, LLC. Over the course of the week, professionals can expect to tap into resources that will help them build their network while building awareness around their brands.
Here are tips to help you prepare for the week and make it count:
Do Your Research
There will be opportunities to connect with recruiters from reputable companies conducting on-the-spot interviews. Be sure to take a look at the list of companies ahead of time.
Update Your Social Media Profiles
Your online presence says a lot about you before you enter the room. Take time to make sure that your social
media accounts are professional and up to date. Make sure that your profile pictures are clear (and in good taste), your biographies are accurate and consistent across platforms, and people can easily find you online.
Have Enough Printed Collateral
A huge part of networking is being able to market yourself. Make sure that you have everything in your portfolio ready to go to show others when you connect with them.
Here’s a checklist:
- Business cards
- Branding statement
- Résumé
- Samples of work
Be Ready to Pitch
You never know who you’re going to run into. Charlotte Networking Week is designed to help catapult entrepreneurs. Prepare your elevator pitch and be ready to pitch at any given moment.
Use Social Media to Your Advantage
If you are excited about the conference, let other people know on social media. You can also connect with people online ahead of the conference if there is a conference hashtag. In this case, it is #CharlotteNetworkingWeek. If you are really socially savvy, covering the event live on your social media accounts can help you stand out as a professional.
Follow Up
Investing in networking events means nothing if you don’t follow up with people. Make sure that you send your thank you notes and connect with others on LinkedIn once you’ve wrapped up your time at the conference. Remember, thank you goes a long way!
For more information about Charlotte’s Networking Week, click here. And see you in Charlotte for the 2018 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit.