Virtual Networking Events: Prepare and Start a Conversation
A virtual networking event lets you meet people around a shared profession or interest without travelling.
- Time:
- 60 min
- Cost:
- free
- Difficulty:
- moderate
- Where:
- Indoors
- Best:
- With others
A virtual networking event lets you meet people around a shared profession or interest without travelling. Choose an event with a clear organiser, topic and format. Check the current date, time zone, joining instructions and any fee before registering.
Prepare an introduction and two questions
Write a brief introduction with your name, area of work or interest and what you hope to learn. Prepare questions such as “What are you working on at the moment?” or “Which part of this topic interests you most?” Test the meeting link, audio and display name before the event starts.
Use the organiser’s turn-taking and chat rules. In a breakout room, invite others to speak rather than delivering a long pitch. If you want to stay in touch, ask which channel they prefer and follow up only with their agreement. Do not treat a participant list as permission for unsolicited messages.
Why attend a virtual networking event is worth an hour
Online events lower the cost of showing up, which means the people who do engage stand out sharply. A single specific question in the chat gets noticed in a way it never would in a crowded room. And because everyone is already at a keyboard, following up takes seconds instead of the days it takes after a physical event.
How to attend a virtual networking event step by step
- 1
Choose small and topic-led
A thirty-person roundtable on one subject beats a five-hundred-person webinar. Interaction, not audience size, is what you are buying.
- 2
Prepare two real questions
Write them before joining. A specific question about the speaker's work is the cheapest way to become memorable.
- 3
Turn your camera on
In a room of black rectangles, a face is an unfair advantage. It also commits you to actually paying attention.
- 4
Use the chat early
Say something in the first ten minutes. The longer you lurk, the higher the barrier to your first contribution becomes.
- 5
Follow up within the hour
Send one message referencing something specific they said. Generic connection requests sent the next week get ignored.
Tips to get more out of it
- Aim for one good conversation, not ten shallow ones. A single person who remembers you is worth more than thirty new contacts.
- Stay for the unstructured part at the end. Most people leave when the talk finishes, which is exactly when it gets useful.
- Take notes during, not after. Details you were sure you would remember evaporate within twenty minutes.
Ways to mix it up
If large events drain you, look for structured one-to-one formats where a facilitator pairs people off, which removes the mingling entirely. If you already know the field well, offer to speak at one instead of attending; being on the panel is a shortcut past the networking.
For more ideas, browse career development activities.
Another activity to try is research companies you'd like to work for.
Attend a virtual networking event: frequently asked questions
How can I start a conversation at an online networking event?
Introduce yourself briefly, mention the shared event topic and ask an open question. Listen to the answer and ask a relevant follow-up instead of immediately pitching yourself.
Where do I find good virtual networking events?
Professional association calendars, Meetup, Eventbrite, and industry newsletters. Ask a peer where they go; the best ones are rarely advertised widely.
What do I say when I follow up?
Reference one specific thing they said and ask one question. That combination makes it obvious you were actually present.
Is virtual networking as useful as in person?
Different rather than worse. Weaker for chance encounters, stronger for reaching people geographically out of range and for following up quickly.
Related activities
Career Development
Reconnect with a former colleague
To reconnect with a former colleague, send a short message that explains why you thought of them and gives them an easy way to respond.
Career Development
Research companies you'd like to work for
Build a shortlist of companies that excite you and dig into their culture, openings, and growth.
Career Development
Create an elevator pitch for yourself
Craft a confident 30-second summary of who you are and what you do, then practice until it flows naturally.