Second networking event of the year and I accidentally leave my business cards in the car
I decided that 2020 would be the year of networking for me
I decided that 2020 would be the year of networking for me. Networking is hard for me because I can be extremely shy. Regardless, I told myself I was going to push myself out of my comfort zone and start reaching out to people, in and outside of my employer. Against my better judgement, I decided to attend a woman’s networking event hosted by a local congressman. This event was titled the AZ Women’s Leadership Tech Talk. Basically, it was a room full of women in various levels of leadership who came together to hear a panel of other, very important women in the healthcare industry, discuss items that are crucial to the development of women in the STEM industry. After the panel discussion, all parties are encouraged to network.
I cannot stop staring at her bright orange lipstick.
Overly nervous and excited, I picked out my outfit the night before. Black slacks, a black and mauve floral shirt and a perfectly matching mauve blazer, chic? Maybe. I get there 45 minutes early; I sit in my car and just breathe. My nerves are killing me but I need to remain calm. Finally, with 30 minutes to spare, I manage to walk down to the ballroom where the event is being held. I walk in, and I see a stage flanked with about 20 round tables that seat about 10 people each. I immediately beeline for the table in the center that is empty. As soon as I sit down, I am like “ok what do I do with my hands? How do I try to look busy?” I grab one of the itineraries on the table and feverishly scan the contents like I am trying to pick out an entre at a fancy restaurant. After I have done that for about 10 minutes (way too long), I put the itinerary down and start to scan the room. As soon as I start to feel nervous a sweet lady named Kristy walks up to me and asks if she can sit with me. I oblige but I cannot stop staring at her bright orange lipstick. “What balls this woman has” I mutter to myself. Then I start questioning my choice of mauve lipstick, even though it perfectly matches the mauve flowers on my shirt, that perfectly match my…mauve blazer (eyeroll).
You belong here, you deserve to be here, sit up and contribute to the conversation!
Soon, another lady sits next to me, she is very domineering and self-assured. She begins talking across me to Krista about an article she read in the Wall Street Journal, the subject matter is foreign to me and I don’t have anything to contribute to the conversation so instantly I start to shrink in my seat. Then, I say to myself “what are you doing? You belong here, you deserve to be here, sit up and contribute to the conversation!” Then, as if someone smacked me on the back, I perk straight up and blurt out that I have been listening to a podcast about a company that crashed after only being open an few years. Both women stop mid-sentence and look at me in bewilderment. I smile nervously, and Krista does me a solid and asks the name so that she can add it to her list of podcasts to listen to on her commute to work.
The ladies ask me for a business card so that we can contact each other after the event and I realize that I left my business cards in my car. “Amateur!” I mutter to myself in my head. For the rest of the event I have to resort to writing my info down on a piece of notebook paper. “Note to self, remember your cards!” ugh.
Finally, it’s time for the panel to speak. One woman on the panel reminds me a lot of myself personality wise so I pay extra close attention when she speaks. “I have been under-qualified for every job I have ever had!” she proudly exclaims. I perk up, and in my head I say to myself “ME TOO” but I would never say that out loud. I then wonder if I should start applying for jobs that I am under-qualified for.
“I have been under-qualified for every job I have ever had!” she proudly exclaims. I perk up, and in my head I say to myself “ME TOO”
This has been something that I have been struggling with for some time. How can I apply for a role that has job responsibilities that I have never done? These last couple of weeks I have applied for the jobs that I want and not necessarily the ones that I think I am simply qualified for. You can learn the duties of any job, not knowing them does not make you unqualified for the role. I am curious to see how this pans out, only time will tell. In the meantime, I am glad I went, and I know I need to push myself to attend more events like this.
