Share your thoughts about professional networking - you could win a £50 voucher or Workfest tickets! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Workfest 2016 is coming up soon (14th May) and to get us all in the mood, we’d love to hear your thoughts all about professional networking.

So, networking - what do you think? Do you hate small talk? Maybe you struggle with self-esteem and confidence in a professional environment? Or do you bound into professional events and work the room like a pro? How useful do you find sites like LinkedIn? Share your troubles, tips or joys with networking below - we'd love to hear about them, and we'd love to see you at Workfest!

This one-day event is packed to the rafters with advice for women in - or returning to - the workplace, with a range of workshops and one-on-one sessions hosted by self-made entrepreneurs and career experts. It could be just what you need to kick-start your career, as attested to by these Mumsnetters from last year:

"I felt truly inspired and motivated...I have 'the fire in my belly' to move forward and reach my goals."

"The day was much more than I had hoped. I was and still am in awe of the speakers and gained so much positive energy."

"One of the best value conferences I have been to in a long time."

Tickets are available here

Add your comments to this thread and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win their choice of a £50 store voucher or a pair of Workfest 2016 tickets.

I enjoy being a working mum as I want my kids to grow up to know you earn money to pay bills you don't live off the government

hate it - i find it so superficial and awkward

While I appreciate how essentially important professional networking is, I am guilty at not investing any time or effort to develop my network

I am usually ok but rely on my son if something new comes up

I dislke the very idea.

I am rubbish as I always assume that everyone else is better than me despite me having a high level responsible job.

Serious self-esteem issues!

I don't mind online networking but I find that face to face networking can be an absolute nightmare. I hate rudeness and when someone asks who you are, looks at you with disdain and walks away I find I have to bite my tongue. Saying that though - I do have the gift of the gab and a tough skin so I tend to be ok I think.

I'm not great at networking but think like a lot of things it gets easier the more that you do you. It helps to identify what you want before you go and who can assist you to achieve that rather than randomly talking to anyone. Like others have said it is better to make two good contacts than leave with 50 business cards.

Its not a big dislike of mine but one I could do without! haha

Hate it,I find it really hard talking to people i dont know but sometimes you just have to go through these things.

Haven't done much, as am recently self employed, but, same as many others have already said on this thread, I feel awkward at the start but once I get going and find some friendly faces it's usually fine.
I also need to get my arse in gear and get my LinkedIn going, as that seems to be the online place to be.
Being natural is a must, I am good at spotting "fakers" and they really put me off!

I've never liked networking it feels really artificial - people are only interested in you if they think you might be able to help them with something!

I don't struggle with it, just don't enjoy it and find it boring and a bit false.

I totally loathe it, especially when sold as a "networking opportunity". Especially listening to people bigging themselves up and talking utter nonsense. Fortunately, I've moved to a non-corporate field where it doesn't exist but working things up between us happens more organically and honestly.

I can do it, but I don't like to do it. I like to work alone and as little interaction and dependence on other people as possible.

I love networking, the "organic" one. Meeting people and establishing connections spontaneously. Nothing feels me with more dread than attending networking sessions where everything is so bloody artificial and full of people bluffing about fantastic qualities/experience that are not quite up to the claims. It is often the case that I feel like saying: That is amazing, fantastic use of adjectives, now what EXACTLY do you do?

Actually, I find myself offended when I am networked for "connections", or when people tell me that they need to introduce me to one of their friends because it would be "so great for both of us" when I couldn't find the faintest point of common ground with such people.

Having said that, I see networking as a necessary evil. If you don't make sure people knows about you and what you do, how on Earth can you increase your sales or be considered for more challenging jobs?

I think it all depends on who you have to network with. Some I don't mind, but others I really find it annoying.

I hate networking events. Really awkward and uncomfortable.

I like that the older I get the better I am at networking, far more confident.

I'm not very good at deliberately networking. I meet people more naturally on courses and through mutual colleagues and that's enough for me!

I hate networking - all types of 'enforced fun' make me cringe. But totally see the benefit of it, so force myself to do every other event put on by my work

I find networking so hard! I usually just end up quizzing some wonderfully enthusiastic person on their business - I don't have a clue how to sell myself.

I used to love networking and meeting new people when I was younger but now I find I dread it! I've been out of the work circle for a while (I've done bits from home and have found networking online is so much easier!) Now that I am motivated to start a new career (seeing my little ones are not so little now!) I want to address the issues I have.my confidence has taken a knocking and I'm constantly worrying what people think of me! Gah! I want to get over this, find focus, build my confidence and get myself a job I love!

I find it daunting, however when I get to an event I enjoy it and usually find like minded people to chat with, which often leads to interesting discussions or new ideas.

Two tips, as I find networking very awkward too!

1. find out who's there or who's coming, if you can, and make a beeline to talk to them. Even if it's just one person that you'll actually do business with, the event will have been worth it. Ask the organiser to introduce you if you don't know who they are.
2. approach the event like you're just gathering contacts locally, rather than definitely finding someone useful, or tat you're found to be useful. The most likely scenario is that you meet a digital marketer, for eg, thought that they were great, take their business card, then a few weeks later a friend /colleague needs to find a digital marketer and bingo, you've already met them and were impressed. Everyone loves you because you enabled those two to find each other.