--- title: 4 Networking Tips to Do Before Any Meeting description: Make sure to always go in with a goal in mind. canonical: https://time.com/4299166/networking-meeting-tips/ author: Lily Herman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-20T18:04:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T09:02:16.606Z og:title: 4 Things You Should Do Before Networking og:description: Increase your odds of a successful interaction og:url: https://time.com/4299166/networking-meeting-tips/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6123a6392c0dcc1/69888fb3524fc04ed8df7a13/networking-meeting-helpful-tips.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 7080 og:image:height: 3983 og:image:alt: networking-meeting-helpful-tips og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 4 Things You Should Do Before Networking twitter:description: Increase your odds of a successful interaction twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6123a6392c0dcc1/69888fb3524fc04ed8df7a13/networking-meeting-helpful-tips.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 4 Things You Should Do Before Networking > Sponsored content. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published Tuesdays and Saturdays to 40,000 subscribers as of August 2026. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. by [Lily Herman](https://time.com/author/lily-herman/) ## Lily Herman Apr 20, 2016 6:04 PM UTC  Getty Images by [Lily Herman](https://time.com/author/lily-herman/) ## Lily Herman Apr 20, 2016 6:04 PM UTC Whether speaking to other people terrifies you or energizes you, networking is a crucial part of moving up the career ladder and broadening your horizons. But there’s nothing worse than leaving a networking meeting feeling like it didn’t go as well as it could have. What should you do before any networking situation to ensure success? Experts explain the four most critical things to consider before stepping into any coffee meeting. **1\. Have a specific goal in mind**It may seem obvious, but having a plan is crucial if you want to build any sort of professional relationship.“Whatever your desire is, you want to have clarity on that before you walk in,” says [Ashley Stahl](http://www.ashleystahl.com/), a millennial career coach. For instance, do you want to learn how the person made a particular transition in their career? Are you looking for the person’s insight into a particular challenge you’re facing? Having a goal—and clearly expressing it—makes it easier for the other person to understand how they can help you. **2\. Do your research**While you certainly don’t need to look up every single social-media site a person posts on before heading into a networking meeting, take time to look someone up on LinkedIn, read through their profile and look for mutual interests. Don’t be afraid to do some Google searching, either. If you want to take it a step further, [Hannah Morgan](http://careersherpa.net/), a career and professional branding expert, recommends reading anything the person has written online. “See if they have published anything on LinkedIn by checking the section immediately below the first contact section,” she says. “Read the post(s), and be prepared to ask questions about what they’ve written during the conversation.” **_Read more:_** [_The 4 Golden Rules of Networking_](http://motto.time.com/4251116/elizabeth-gore-network) **3\. Practice your elevator pitch**“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most common job interview and networking conversation prompts, says Stahl, so having a good answer is crucial. “I highly recommend thinking about the ‘why’ behind why you’re pursuing the career you’re in,” she says. “Purpose is universal, and it’s a great way to authentically connect.” As an added bonus, someone will be better able to help you find a job you love if you talk about your values and what you’re really looking for in your career. **_Read more:_** [_A Networking Guide for Introverts_](http://motto.time.com/4251227/introvert-networking) **4\. Consider how you can help them**One of the biggest mistakes young professionals make is that networking meetings should be all about them. In reality, the complete opposite is true. People want professional relationships that benefit them, too, and the more that you show you’re willing to go out on a limb, the more room there is for any professional relationship to grow. “While you never need to overextend yourself, always keep your ears open for an opportunity to be of service,” says Stahl. Stahl recommends asking, “How can I add more value here?” Can you introduce this contact to someone else who’s looking to hire someone just like them? 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