My First Networking Event Abroad

If you are a young professional or still in college, you probably heard millions of times how important networking is. However, has someone taught you how to actually network or how to engage with professionals from different fields? 

I hadn’t learned.  

Therefore, once I received an invitation from IES Abroad Cape Town about an upcoming networking event, I felt anxious. Should I go? Choosing not to go sounded like the easiest option. As I was walking from work that day, I thought: When else will I be in Cape Town, having an opportunity to learn how to network with my peers and professionals from different fields working in Cape Town? So, that’s when I decided that I’m going. 

The event took place in a beautiful hotel ballroom overlooking the ocean. The room was filled with brilliant people with different backgrounds. I stuck close to my friend with networking experience, so I took mental notes of how she presented herself and held conversations.  The event started with the IES Abroad CEO speaking, followed by the IES Abroad Cape Town director and speeches from students sharing their experience abroad. These stories reminded me that stepping outside your comfort zone results in growth and learning. 

View on the way to the event

Then, it was time to mingle. To my surprise, the conversations flew easily. I spoke with other students, internship supervisors, and professionals from different industries-from law to education to community service. I noticed that networking in South Africa looked different from what I expected. It did not feel like a formal conversation specifically focused on one’s career. People were more genuinely interested to learn about me, not just my resume. 

One of the college advisors shared her career journey from being a journalist to developing college curricula for community colleges in the U.S. to make them more inclusive. Her story showed me the importance of being brave enough to change your career path and pursue your passions. 

Another highlight from the event was a conversation with the CEO of the Congolese Civil Society in Cape Town who shared his perspective on the challenges that the African continent faces that hinder its development. A friend of mine, who dreams of working on strengthening international cooperation in Africa was deeply inspired. During our conversation, we all decided to collaborate on a project to start a WhatsApp group for young people passionate about change who can brainstorm ideas on how to solve global challenges. This instance showed the true essence of networking, connecting with like-minded individuals and working on the projects that matter. Also, it showed me that change requires small actions and community. 

I also had the chance to speak with my own internship supervisor in a completely different setting. Outside our usual work context, we connected on a more personal level. He shared some of his journey working in Cape Town’s nonprofit sector — and how mentorship shaped his leadership style. That conversation helped me see the bigger picture behind the work I do each day.

By the end of the night, I realized that I didn’t even think about the nervousness that would have prevented me from attending this event. Now let’s move to the practical part of this blog, I want to share some of the things I wish I did before go to the networking event and I hope you find them useful for your next networking event:

• Prepare a short introduction before going to the event: Your name, your school, and what you are passionate about. Practicing this will make you feel less nervous, and you will have a great start of the conversation.
• Ask a lot of questions. Be curious, ask people about their work, their careers and what they enjoy doing. People love sharing stories and you will definitely learn a lot from them.
• Do some research about the companies that the professionals are from - it is good to have some information that you can casually throw in the conversation, it shows that you care.
• If you are looking to grow your LinkedIn connections, it is a good idea to print some business cards with your info that you can hand out to people.
• Stay positive and don’t let the nervousness take you over and stop you from making great connections- I can guarantee you are not the only one feeling that way, so take a deep breath and stay calm and approachable. 

This event once again reminded me that growth happens when you choose to step out of your comfort zone, especially when you are feeling unsure of yourself. IES Abroad didn’t just give me an internship, but they also gave me a space where I could grow as a professional, build strong relationships and communicate across cultures. 

I walked into the room feeling like a nervous student and walked out feeling empowered and excited about my next networking event!