It’s time to get networking.

Events are a BD golden ticket.

Face time in a digital world is more important now than ever, and the best recruiters are making sure that they’re going above and beyond to (physically) get in front of the right people.

Sure, phone calls and messages can be an effective method. But, nothing beats face-to-face time. 

You may have dabbled in going to events previously, but now is the time to get serious about your event strategy to get maximum results. 

A ‘spray and pray’ approach isn’t going to work. 

Ask yourself: Who do I want to bring together?

Be specific. Think beyond job titles and industries, consider career stages, goals, or even values. For example:

• Senior marketers navigating leadership challenges

• Early-career HR professionals seeking guidance

• Startup founders hiring their first team

• Contractors and freelancers looking for community and consistency

What do they need right now?
Think about the pain points or aspirations they might share.

• A sense of belonging or peer support

• Access to insights they don’t get in their day-to-day

• Practical advice (e.g. hiring trends, salary benchmarks)

• Career progression stories from people one step ahead

• Opportunities to raise their profile

When you get clear on who your community is for and what they need, everything else gets easier: the format, the content, the speakers, even the vibe in the room. Long-term, this is an incredible BD tool as you’ll have a ready engaged pool of people who already know who you are.

Start small and free

You don’t need an expensive venue or big-ticket sponsorship to create a great event. 

So, keep it lean, intentional, and high-impact. 

Where to host:

• Your office or boardroom – A roundtable in a familiar space feels intimate and relaxed. Rearranged desks, a few chairs, and you're good to go.

• Local co-working spaces – Many have free community rooms or offer event space in exchange for promotion.

• Cafés (off-peak hours) – Some will reserve a section if you promise a certain spend. Think late mornings or early evenings.

What About Catering?

Good food makes people feel looked after, but that doesn’t mean splurging. Here’s how to do it well on a budget:

• Breakfast sessions: Skip the full spread. Go with pastries, fruit, and good coffee. Pick it up yourself to reduce cost.

• After-work drinks: A few bottles of wine, soft drinks, and a basic platter is all you need (or our personal favourite, pizza!). 

• BYO model: If your venue allows, let guests bring something to share or ask a local vendor to sponsor snacks in exchange for a shout-out.

Co-create 

People love being part of something. So invite collaborators!

• Co-host with another recruiter, industry leader, or hiring manager.

• Ask speakers or guests to help shape the format.

• Crowdsource discussion topics via LinkedIn polls.

This creates shared ownership and eases the pressure on you. We’ve done this a LOT, whether it’s with Hector or doing co-created newsletters. It enables us to expand our knowledge and network, and also shine a light on those who have more expertise than we do.

TIP: Have a QR code available for attendees to scan to automatically connect with you on LinkedIn.

Here’s how to win before, during, and after your OWN event:

Finally, our round up of our ‘secret sauce’ to success.

I posted about it last week (in the context of attending events), but for those of you who didn’t see it…

🧠 Before the Event

• Post your event on LinkedIn (visibility = opportunity) - This gives you a chance to strike up conversation with people before you get to see them in-person.

• Message 5-10 people you are really keen to meet - Encourage potential new business to come to your event.

• Block out time to prep questions + research attendees - People want to feel valued. If you can demonstrate that you know some ‘key facts’ after the time to attend your event - you’ll impress them.

🎤 During the Event

• Start the conversations, don’t wait 

• Take quick notes after key chats (gold for follow-ups) - Send yourself voice notes on WhatsApp!

• Ask better questions than “so, how’s business?” 

• Work on your smooth exit strategy for convos you need to end politely - A simple “it’s been so great to meet you, I’m going to catch up with some other attendees and I’m sure we’ll speak later” is a great way to keep conversations moving without cutting people off.

🔁 After the Event (So many of the wins come after)

• Send personalised follow-ups the next day (Where your notes come in handy)

• Add relevant people to your nurture campaign or process

• Post your takeaways to stay visible on LinkedIn - (Bonus points if you have photos) 

• Book coffees or calls with people you actually vibed with

Your second event will be easier. Your third will be fuller. Your 10th will have a waitlist!

Too many recruiters give up at the first hurdle, you have to be prepared to sit in some empty rooms for a while before you start creating a long-lasting community.

Events are an INCREDIBLE business development tool, and although you may feel like the industry is ‘too saturated’ - waiting around isn’t going to get you ahead of the competition.

Keep it simple.

Keep it focused.

Build your community.

Good luck!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

#1: Do you listen to my podcast? I release a weekly episode with either a top-performing recruiter or recruitment entrepreneur to find out how they achieved their success so you can learn directly from their journey Check out my latest episode and subscribe to the show.

#2: Are you tired of your teams' inconsistent performances hindering your growth? Hector (All-In-One Training Platform with 120+ Practical Courses) equips your team with actionable, step-by-step training from top-performing recruiters so you can eliminate inconsistency and drive reliable results >>>> Book A Free Skills Assessment Session With Me Here to see how we can help you unlock the full potential of your team.