Professional and Career Topics

When meeting new individuals at conferences or meetings, what are some practices you apply to remember who you are meeting and the information you are exchanging? Do you take notes after meeting someone? Do you take notes while chatting with that person?

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Oswaldo Bravo P.E., M.ASCE
Staff Geotechnical Engineer
Lenexa KS
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------Original Message------

When meeting new individuals at conferences or meetings, what are some practices you apply to remember who you are meeting and the information you are exchanging? Do you take notes after meeting someone? Do you take notes while chatting with that person?

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Oswaldo Bravo P.E., M.ASCE
Staff Geotechnical Engineer
Lenexa KS
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First off, I admit that I could use some improvement in the "remember people's names and where we met" department.

One strategy I use is to be generous with my business cards and as soon as possible after meeting a person, I take some quick notes on the back of their card. For me, what helps is to take a note or two about what we talked about, where we met. I may take more extensive notes later when back at home or in my hotel room. I would say it's perfectly acceptable to follow up with an email after the conference, especially if you don't live in the same community.

I only take notes during a visit if there is an "ask" that we agree on. I just say, "let me write that down so I remember" then follow up with a call or email to deliver the ask. Having good "forgetter" works better and better as an excuse as I am getting more grays..

The last year or so, I have also started connecting with people on LinkedIn after a conference etc. Having a picture of the person helps me a great deal.

What ever works best for you as a learning/memorization habit - find ways to use it in networking as well. For me what works best is if I can connect a face to a topic - but we all have different learning styles.

Good luck with your networking - I have found ASCE to be an excellent place for that.

Kind regards,

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Tor Anderzen P.E., M.ASCE
Senior Aviation Engineer
HDL
Palmer AK
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First thing is to determine if this is a person who you may use as a contact in the future. Ask for a card and if they don't have one on them, then yes take notes with name, phone, job title, specialty, etc. Even if you get a card, they may tell you information you want to make sure you don't forget, then simply say " I am going to write that down so I don't forget". Nothing wrong with just telling them why. Most will not get offended that you do not have a photographic memory. 

During meetings it is normal to takes notes, that includes lunch or dinner meetings. Facts are that while eating your brain is focused on tastes and flavors, so things can be missed. 

In a meeting years ago with a public agency, my client pulled out a note pad and said "you don't mind if I write all this down. Just want to make sure that if you change your mind on details of the sewer and water after this meeting, I can send you a bill for everyone's time". The public works director looked shocked but will say he was really clear on everything and then asked to go over everything at the end of the meeting to make sure everything was in order.

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George Miles P.E., M.ASCE
President
Alligator Engineering Inc
New Smyrna Beach FL
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These are all great tips.

The one caution I have is do not try to determine if this contact is someone that will be "useful" to you in the future. Attend strategic networking events, but when you are there network with the mindset that everyone can teach you something. You really never know over a person's career where they will end up. You also don't know when you may run into a client's family/friends/children socially so it behooves you to treat everyone both in and outside your network well. I've seen a number of folks (even in my short 15 year career so far) do a career pivot and end up as the owner's or client's representative.

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Stephanie Slocum P.E., M.ASCE
Associate Principal
Hope Furrer Assoc Inc
State College PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2017 14:16
From: George Miles
Subject: Networking at Conferences

First thing is to determine if this is a person who you may use as a contact in the future. Ask for a card and if they don't have one on them, then yes take notes with name, phone, job title, specialty, etc. Even if you get a card, they may tell you information you want to make sure you don't forget, then simply say " I am going to write that down so I don't forget". Nothing wrong with just telling them why. Most will not get offended that you do not have a photographic memory. 

During meetings it is normal to takes notes, that includes lunch or dinner meetings. Facts are that while eating your brain is focused on tastes and flavors, so things can be missed. 

In a meeting years ago with a public agency, my client pulled out a note pad and said "you don't mind if I write all this down. Just want to make sure that if you change your mind on details of the sewer and water after this meeting, I can send you a bill for everyone's time". The public works director looked shocked but will say he was really clear on everything and then asked to go over everything at the end of the meeting to make sure everything was in order.

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George Miles P.E., M.ASCE
President
Alligator Engineering Inc
New Smyrna Beach FL
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