Unlike many recruitment agencies, here at Thompson & Terry Recruitment, we don’t have personal sales or referral targets to meet – so you might ask why does everybody in our team network! 

I had heard great things about going to networking events from family members about how it is a great place to meet people and do business. I was very keen to go along and begin my networking journey but, being totally honest, I did feel a bit of impostor syndrome; I couldn’t see how I, having recently started my new graduate role, could add value to a room of Oxfordshire business owners?  

Having now attended a number of networking events with the Oxford Business Community Network (OBCN), I can definitely see the huge benefits and looking back Ben was right, I didn’t have anything to be fearful of and the benefits are huge! 

Firstly, one amazing benefit of networking at this stage of my career especially is the personal development I have received. My confidence has sky rocketed by being given a safe space to talk to such a wide range of businesspeople around Oxfordshire. Whether talking about my week, asking and learning about what others do for work, or having the opportunity to share what I do, networking has offered me many opportunities to grow my people skills in a professional setting.  

Networking has also given me the opportunity to share to the entire room of professionals about who I work for and how my work can benefit others. Not only has this improved my confidence with public speaking, but has also allowed me to really learn and reflect on my day-to-day role and share it in a couple of sentences.  This is such an important networking skill to tell others in a simple but effective way more about yourself and hopefully spark a later conversation about how we might be able to help each other.  

One of my takeaways from networking is not that it is about selling to one another, but rather it is a great environment to help each other. Since networking myself, I have been able to introduce new people to Thompson & Terry Recruitment and discuss their recruitment needs (and how I could help!). Equally, it has been so good to meet other business people who I feel that I could recommend and would 100% use personally after having built a relationship with them. I suppose it’s true that at networking people buy people!  

Off the back of this, I would say that my biggest advice would be: network!  

Of course, I would strongly encourage people to try out the Oxfordshire Business Community Network (OBCN) as both Cara and I have had such a good experience – I frequently attend their online and in-person events and can honestly say it is benefitting my personal development and is a great place for people to share what they do and help each other’s businesses! 

If you have any questions about networking or are keen to get stuck in, please get in touch!