Careers Hub | The networking guide for introverts

Sep 6, 2016

Pulse Recruitment

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Social gatherings are not always pleasant, at least for some people. Sometimes in business, we’re expected to attend work functions, dinners, meetings, conferences, seminars, networking events… the list goes on. If you’re an extrovert who enjoys meeting new people and having a chat – these days must be a breeze! However, what about the less social type, such as the introverts or those who suffer from social phobia? If you’re at a business-type function, I guarantee there’s at least one person in the room who is squirming with nervousness. In fact, research suggests that almost 11 per cent of the Australian population experiences social phobia during their lifetime, with more women than men appearing to develop the disorder. So if that person is you, try some of these tips to help you conquer your next event.

    Stick with your colleagues. At least for the start until you feel more comfortable. If you’re feeling up to it, step out of your comfort zone to meet at least one new person. After all, you never know who you’ll meet. Sticking by your colleague’s side is staying within the safe zone, but try and branch out to meet others as well.

    Bring your business cards. This is a great way to close off the conversation if you aren’t sure what to say next. Offering to stay in touch by providing your business card can always lead to future opportunities.

    Limit the alcohol. As much as some boozy confidence may sound appealing, if you’re already feeling anxious, don’t add alcohol into the mix. Feel free to have a small amount, but don’t substitute alcohol to sweep the nerves under the rug.

    Show face. Sometimes, all you need to do is be present. Once you’ve mingled and shown your presence, often that’s enough. People often feel pressured to stay until the very end of an event in fear of looking rude if they leave slightly early. If you’ve done your part, call it an early night. People would have rather you attend and leave early than to not come at all.

    Lastly, try to remind yourself that it’s just part of the job. You aren’t going to love every aspect of your work, and if this is one of the parts you don’t enjoy, just do your best and remember you aren’t alone.

    FROM OUR PULSE NEWS, EMPLOYER AND JOB SEEKER HUBS

    Featured Articles

    The Danger of “Feature-Dumping” in B2B Sales

    It is a classic trap that ensnares some of the most intelligent, passionate, and deeply knowledgeable sales professionals in the industry. You know your product or service inside and out. You understand every single piece of code, every design choice, every advanced configuration, and every niche capability it possesses. You are incredibly proud of what…
    Stalled deals killing your sales pipeline? Try this.

    Every sales professional has experienced the ghost town phase of a deal. You have a fantastic discovery call, the prospect seems deeply engaged, you send over a comprehensive proposal—and then, silence. Weeks pass. Follow-up emails go unanswered. Your voice messages disappear into a corporate void. You check your pipeline metrics, and a deal that felt…
    A Guide to Breaking Into Tech Sales with Zero Experience

    For decades, popular culture has painted a very specific, hyper-aggressive portrait of the salesperson. We think of sharp suits, high-pressure pitches, and the relentless mantra of “Always Be Closing.” But in the modern software-as-a-service (SaaS) ecosystem, that archetype is not just dead—it is a massive liability. Today’s tech sales professionals are consultants, problem-solvers, and strategic…
    The SDR to Account Executive Roadmap: How to Get Promoted

    The Sales Development Representative (SDR) role is the engine room of the tech sales world. It is a grueling, high-volume position fueled by cold outreach, relentless activity targets, and the constant pressure to feed the pipeline for older, higher-paid sales professionals. While it is an incredible training ground for learning resilience and baseline communication skills,…
    How to Prepare for a Sales Role Play Interview

    You’ve passed the phone screen. You’ve nailed the first round. And now the hiring manager has just sent through a calendar invite with two words that send a chill down every candidate’s spine: role play. For many tech sales candidates — even experienced ones — the role play interview is where confidence evaporates. Suddenly, all…
    Stop Treating Talent Connections Like Leads

    Imagine walking into a high-end, exclusive networking event. You see an influential industry player standing by the drinks. You walk straight up to them, skip the pleasantries, slide your business card into their jacket pocket, and say, “Hi, I’m looking for a job. Let me know if you hear of anything that fits me.” Then…
    Why Your Personal Brand Is the Only GTM Resume That Matters

    There is a parallel universe in Go-To-Market (GTM) hiring, and if you are relying on standard job boards, you are entirely locked out of it. Here is the uncomfortable truth about the tech sales landscape today: The best GTM sales roles are almost never publicly posted. By the time a Head of Sales, VP of…
    Why Today’s Tech Layoffs Are a Structural Redesign, Not a Correction

    Over the last few years, a quiet but unsettling realization has rippled through the global technology sector. The steady drumbeat of workforce reductions, restructures, and corporate downsizings has refused to fade into the background. For a long time, the industry told itself a comforting lie: that this was all just a temporary hangover from the…
    The Skills Upgrade: Why Titles Matter Less Than Capabilities

    For decades, the professional world ran on a standard currency: the job title. Your title defined your authority, your daily tasks, and your trajectory. When a company needed to grow, HR drew up a new static job description, matched it to a title, and went to market. It was a clean, predictable system designed for…
    Mastering the Hybrid Interview

    By 2026, the traditional corporate interview has officially fragmented. The days of shaking hands, judging a company’s culture by its office espresso bar, and reading an interviewer’s posture across a physical mahogany table are largely remnants of the past. Today, the hiring gauntlet is overwhelmingly hybrid. Initial chemistry reads, deep-dive technical panels, and even final-round…

    Visit our blog page