Here's how you can effectively follow up with contacts after networking events in recruiting.

To effectively follow up with contacts after networking, send a personalized message within 24-48 hours, referencing specific points from your conversation to demonstrate genuine interest and attentiveness. Keep the communication concise and express appreciation for their time and insights, while also suggesting a future meeting or call to continue the dialogue. According to a LinkedIn survey, 85% of critical job roles are filled through networking, highlighting the importance of timely and thoughtful follow-up in maintaining professional relationships and opportunities .

While connecting with your network, prioritize giving value. Always share industry insights, introduce them to various professionals or give resources for career development. Connect with them on LinkedIn, comments on their posts and also share contents which is aligned with their interests. Use CRM system or spreadsheet to track details like follow-up dates, highlights and personal info. Evaluate the success, reflect on the responses received and adapt approach accordingly. If facing less outcome, innovate and experiment with new strategies.

Timing is crucial in networking follow-ups. Send a personalized email within 24-48 hours of the event, referencing a specific conversation or detail to stay memorable. Be concise, engaging, and express gratitude for their time. Keep the communication open for future opportunities.

Send personalized thank-you emails ✉️, connect on LinkedIn with a personalized message 🤝, and schedule follow-up meetings to discuss opportunities 📅.

Adding a personal touch to your follow-up enhances connection-building. Tailor your message using insights from your conversation—mention shared interests or offer assistance with their challenges. This genuine approach fosters relationships beyond mere candidacy, increasing the likelihood of fruitful collaborations in future recruiting opportunities.

It's very memorable and personal if you send handwritten notes to the people you met at the networking event. Writing some notes on the backs of the business cards will help you with recalling details of that new contact.

When you're networking, it's always worth listening out for small pieces of personal information that you can use to establish rapport in follow-up communications. Maybe your contact mentions a hobby that you have an interest in, or follows a particular sports team. Mentioning these in your follow-up can help to strengthen the relationship. You should also consider some self-disclosure. This shouldn't be highly personal information, as that may make your contact uncomfortable. Instead, write about subjects that you think your contact will respond to positively.

Make sure to fully utilise any information you gain from a face to face interaction. It's next to impossible to gain the the same amount of insight from virtual meetings. In saying that, you don't need to instantly bring these points up in your follow up if it's unnatural and forced. Save some points for the rest of the conversation! Side note, 99/100 people will be fine with you taking notes in person - so don't shy away from this if you need to!

Personal touch helps build genuine relationships and sets you apart from generic outreach. It shows your contacts that you value their time and connection, which can lead to stronger professional bonds and better recruitment outcomes.

Offering value is one of the most important thing to consider when following up after networking events. It helps build trust and demonstrates your commitment to their success. By providing relevant insights, resources, or opportunities, you strengthen your professional relationships and increase the likelihood of successful collaborations in recruiting.

When contacting your network, prioritize offering value. Share industry insights, introduce them to professionals, or provide resources for career development. By positioning yourself as a supportive ally rather than just a job seeker, you build trust and establish a reputation as a valuable contact in the professional community.

Good networking achieves mutual benefit. Look for ways in which you can offer something to your contact, whether it's expertise, recommendations, or extending their network by introducing them to your other contacts. Aim to establish your reputation as someone who's both helpful and reliable. Don't be too eager to seek anything in return, and don't make demands for help in your first communications with new contacts. If you have a product that the contact might be interested in, by all means suggest it, but don't go for the hard sell, particularly in the early stages of the relationship.

To maintain a warm relationship, engage consistently. Connect on LinkedIn, comment on their posts, and share relevant content aligned with their interests. This ongoing interaction keeps you top-of-mind and shows genuine interest in their professional journey, increasing the likelihood they'll consider you for opportunities or career moves.

Organize the contact information you've collected as soon as you can. Whether you've got a stack of business cards or a phone full of new contact details, you need to put them into order. Start by assessing them against your networking goals. If you're looking for new sales leads, for example, you could rate them according to a simple scale. "Hot" leads have strong potential as new clients; "warm" leads represent possible new business; and "cool" leads will more likely be trying out a large number of suppliers.

Organizing your networking contacts is crucial for effective follow-ups. Utilize a CRM system or spreadsheet to track key details like follow-up dates, conversation highlights, and personal information. This ensures personalized and timely communications, preventing missed recruiting opportunities and enhancing relationship management.

After your follow-up efforts, it's crucial to evaluate their success. Reflect on the responses received and adapt your approach accordingly. Analyze successful messages to replicate effective tactics in future follow-ups. For less effective outcomes, innovate and experiment with new strategies. Adaptability in nurturing professional relationships is essential in an ever-changing recruiting landscape.

Before you reach out to a new contact, be sure that you know exactly what they do, who they work for, and what their organization does. That way you can decide whether it's worth cultivating a relationship with them. Check out their LinkedIn profile, and search for them online to discover their special interests and past achievements. This can give you some good starting points for a conversation. A potential client will more likely respond favorably if they can see that you've made some effort to find out about them.