Latest News and Events

In all industries we are encouraged to attend networking events to connect with people in similar businesses, share experiences and make useful new contacts that can help either in our current role or in our future career. Some people look forward to these events and some absolutely dread them. Some use them just to catch up with old friends and some come away with pockets full of useful business cards. Whichever of these scenarios matches your experience of networking, there are things you could (and should) be doing to make sure that the time you spend at these events is a good use of your time. At our Autumn ‘Women in Food & Farming’ networking evening, Katie Hart of Rhetonic delivered a workshop which outlined some key elements for success: 1 – Be prepared Most event organiser will send out a delegate list in advance of the event so you can see who’s attending and work out who you might like to speak to. If they don’t send anything, it’s worth asking. Even in the days of GDPR people still find delegate lists incredibly useful, so most people attending a networking event will agree to their details being shared. If you end up with a long list of people you would like to meet, plan your time, think about priorities and set yourself some objectives for what you want to get out of the event. This will help keep you focused. 2 – Breaking the ice It can be very daunting when you arrive in a room full of people who are all busy in conversation. Where do you start? A great tip is to look for groups of odd numbers. It is much easier to join a conversation when there’s an odd person who may be able to break away from another conversation. 3 – The all-important elevator pitch Even if you’ve been in your role for a long time, it’s likely that you haven’t really thought about how to introduce yourself in a succinct and informative way. Think about the following questions and try to answer them in order to build a great elevator pitch: • Who benefits from what you do? • How does it benefit them? • What do you do? 4 – Ending conversations At any networking event there will be a mixture of people who are useful to know and some who have no relevance. Nice as these people may be, it’s important that you are comfortable ending conversations to ensure that you have time to achieve those all-important objectives you set yourself. An effective way of doing this is simply to introduce them to somebody else and subtly exit the conversation. 5 – Make time to follow up Having made some really useful connections, follow up on anything you agreed to do in a conversation or at least get in touch to say how good it was to meet them, and try to do this within 24 hours. You can do this by email or social media. A useful tip is that LinkedIn has a ‘nearby’ tool which can be used while at the event to quickly build up your LinkedIn connection. Find out more about the 'Women in Food & Farming' group

If you're not a naturally effusive and outgoing person, making your achievements and successes known isn't the easiest of tasks. And nowhere is this more true than in a job interview, the outcome of which hinges entirely on your ability to talk yourself up and convince an employer why they should take you on.Of course, you can list your skills, accomplishments and professional expertise in your CV and covering letter, but an interview is an entirely different proposition for someone with a quiet personality. So, if talking confidently about yourself isn't something that comes easily, how can you stop this from counting against you when meeting your prospective employers?1. Choose a role that suits youThere's no reason why introverted people can't thrive in roles that require lots of interaction with colleagues, clients and customers, so don't automatically discount these types of roles. But if tasks such as public speaking fill you with dread, it's perhaps wise to avoid positions that require this on a regular basis. So sit down and work out what you'd be comfortable with on a day-to-day basis and apply for jobs that cater to what you've identified.If you do this, you'll be far more likely to be happy in your job and be able to draw attention to your strengths, rather than your perceived weaknesses.2. Ask others what they think of youIf you're an introvert, you won't necessarily be in the habit of regularly talking or even thinking about all the things you've done recently. No matter how impressive your recent achievements might be, your very nature means you prefer keeping your head down and just getting on with life, without drawing attention to yourself. And there's nothing wrong with that if that's how you are. But it does mean you have to step out of your comfort zone slightly in an interview setting.Before going to your interview, why not ask other people beforehand what they perceive your strengths and weaknesses to be? Colleagues, former bosses, teachers and lecturers could be ideally placed to tell you what you're especially good at and the kind of things you should be talking up in an interview.3. Rehearse answers to expected questionsWhile job interviews don't always follow a strict pattern or structure, there are basic questions that are likely to come up. For instance, interviewers are almost guaranteed to ask why you believe you are right for the role, your understanding of what the job involves and your previous professional experience. Interviewees are regularly encouraged to prepare answers for these types of questions in advance, so they can walk in knowing what they need to say and what salient points to put across. If you're naturally an introverted person, knowing what you want to say in advance doesn't mean you'll be comfortable delivering it out loud. Why not practice your answers beforehand, maybe in front of a mirror or with a friend or relative? By running through the points you want to make, you'll feel more comfortable articulating your thoughts in the actual interview and be less likely to trip up over your own words.Remember though, there's no pressure on you to race through your answers. So make a point of not rushing them, as that will help you stay calm, confident and coherent.4. Take notesThere's a lot of information to process in an interview, and if you're struggling with nerves, then taking it in and retaining it isn't always easy. Don't be afraid to take a notepad and pen with you into an interview and note down points you might want to follow up on later, such as when the opportunity to ask questions yourself comes up at the end.5. Bring a portfolioWhy not take examples of your work and accomplishments with you? This could range from professional certifications to case studies of successful projects at work - and there's no restriction on exactly what format this can be presented in.Not only does this approach let your actual work do much of the talking, it also gives you access to a handy prompt sheet, so you're much less likely to forget an important point you wanted to make. Introverts might not be always as comfortable expressing themselves in front of people as their more outgoing peers. But that shouldn't count against you as you seek to climb up the career ladder, so play to your strengths at every step of the hiring process, from finding suitable roles and writing your CV to putting your best foot forward in the interview.If you're interested in pursuing a career in the Fresh Food, Fresh Produce, Horticulture, Agriculture and Garden & Leisure sectors but could do with a little advice, feel free to email us on info@morepeople.co.uk or call 01780 480530 for a chat about your CV and career with one of our sector specialists.

News & Events

events

MorePeople CEO takes on 'Decembeard' charity challenge

competition

Take part in our survey for your chance to win an iPad!

Launching into a career in food

Networking – how can you make the most of it?

farming

Investing in Farming's Future at Ag Careers Live

interview tips

5 ways for an introvert to impress an employer