Networking takes off as economy sours - Boston Business Journal:

ihituvofy.wordpress.com
“I’m looking for a job,” said the 2002 graduatr of MIT’s Sloan school as he waited for a panel discussion at the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyEnterprise Forum’s event, “Paint it Black: Avoidingh the Financial Beast of Burden in 2009 and Beyond.” Even more than catchingt the discussion about economics, he was keen on workingg the crowd of 120. “Every job I’ve ever had has been a result of networking, so I knew that thesd were the places I had to go to reactivate my network,” said Parduhn, who began frequentinhg events in January and now attendes one or two a week.
And he is far from for these days, old-fashioned networking is back. In a tough LinkedIn and Facebook have nothingon face-to-face where connections forged over plastic cups of wine and finger sandwicheas can ultimately translate into new jobs. Industry groupa say that for the past several monthz events have regularly sold out as members of the businesa community look to expand their whether they’re unemployed or just worried. The has seen an upticmk in attendance atits events, with the exception of pricier golf tournamente and wine tastings, according to Erin vice president of communications at the Chamber.
“The same energy doesn’t come through in a Tweet or Facebook posting, as when you’rre sitting next to someone sharing a meal and chattint aboutyour job,” Murphy In addition to collecting business cards, event attendeed will find that local organizations have tailored topics to include timely information abour dealing with the recession. At the Massachusetta Innovation & Technology Exchange in for example, many programs incorporate tips on how to deal with the Thisyear MITX, which holdsw 70 events annually and has 250 corporates members, has seen a 15 perceny increase in attendees.
“When you’re uncertain, you need to find answers, something — and that’s best solved by connectingb with people,” said Kiki executive directorat MITX. Uncertaint is the prevailing mood amont attorneys who have shown up in droves to attendrecenyt events, which saw attendance rise 25 percentf from September 2008 through the beginning of March, comparef to the same periox the previous years. The legal community has experienced a wave of layoffas inrecent weeks. “In late January at a new winetasting reception, we had over 200 people on a freezing cold Fridah night.
I think we might have in the past, about 60 or 70 people,” said Bonnie communications director atthe BBA. “People seem to be networkin g a lot more in a challenging economty and some people have a little more time ontheidr hands.” Besides providing leads for job networking events provide opportunities for smalll businesses looking to make several customer contactw in one evening. Todd Freund attended last week’ s MIT Enterprise Forum “The Futured of Biotech” event to work the crowd of 300-pluws people.
Freund, staffing director at the biotech placement firm Momentuk Scientific Staffing LLCin Cambridge, recently startee attending networking events to generate leades for his company. “With face-to-face networking you get a much bettet idea of what their real thoughts are and the gossip and the strategid direction ofthe industry. It’s a more unguarded perspective,” he said. Many business typed at the “Future of Biotech” event had a similad agenda and there was even awaiting list, said Jennifer marketing manager at the Boston-basee law firm Foley Hoag LLP, which sponsore and helped organize the MIT Enterprise Forum The Enterprise Forum eventsz have been selling out in recent months, as well as other events the law firm has organized, accordint to Houghton.
Foley Hoag’s event “Solar in Boston/Solar in on March 4 sold out in24 “There are more people who have more time to networo and people realize it’s an opportunity for business Houghton said. Such opportunities often come withprices tags, sometimes hefty The cost to attend eventes can range from complimentary to more than $300, but nevertheless they are bargains, said Tom president and CEO of the Massachusetts Technology Leadershipp Council, who has seen attendancr jump in the past eight months. Attending eventsa is “one of the most cost effectivre ways of getting the messageout (about your Hopcroft said.
In addition to the mainstream eventx like MITX and the MIT Enterprise Mark Doerschlag, founder of Boston-based MarksGuide.com, a listing Web site of locaol events, notes that less established networking groups have startedx to form in recent months. “u think people enjoy sittinf down withother people. It comfortss them to know that others are in asimilat situation,” said Doerschlag.