Your Guide To Professional Networking in Montana
Networking in Montana is truly a hidden gem!
In April 2024, my family will be embarking on a great journey: back home to Missoula, MT. Missoula is home to family and friends from childhood, but I have not been a working professional in Montana for several years now. While our recruiting team does serve Montana, for the first time we will have a satellite office in Montana. And, as we know, Route Networking Group is all about making connections and building relationships with the people in our community, so part of my next move is to understand the best ways to network, get involved, and establish myself as a part of the community.
Follow along for my plan of action in finding the best networking groups, volunteer opportunities, and industry events that will plunge me back into the Missoula community.
Why Does Networking In Montana Matter?
How Can I Start Professional Networking In Montana?
What Do I Do At Professional Networking Events?
What Are The Leading Industries In Montana?
Why Does Networking In Montana Matter?
Did you know about 1.1 million people live in Big Sky Montana?
While Montana might have a smaller population compared to coastal cities, professional circles can be surprisingly tight-knit. Building connections with industry professionals can be crucial for landing your dream job, finding a mentor, or even starting your own business. Networking in Montana allows you to:
- Gain industry insights: Network with experienced professionals to learn about your target field, company culture, and career paths.
- Unearth hidden opportunities: Some jobs aren’t publicly advertised; they’re filled through word-of-mouth which is where local networking comes in.
- Build your reputation: By actively reaching out and connecting with others, you establish yourself as a knowledgeable and reliable professional.
How Can I Start Professional Networking In Montana?
As most good research does, start your networking journey on Google. A quick search gave me a list of several Montana networking groups and potential events that I can attend. Here’s a quick list of what I found:
Did you know that the Missoula Chamber of Commerce offers business networking groups to their members? There’s even a young professional networking group as well called Missoula Young Professionals! Additionally, there are Business After Hours events to attend and learn about local organizations. Ultimately, your local Chamber of Commerce is a great organization to keep up with for events and networking opportunities in your community.
What Do I Do At Professional Networking Events?
Networking doesn’t come easy to everyone. But once you get the hang of networking professionally, you’ll ask yourself how you ever had trouble networking at all! So what do you even do when you start networking in Montana? We put together a list of actionable items you can do when arrive to any networking event like:
- Set Clear Goals
- Listen Actively
- Exchange Contact Information
- Follow Up
Curious to learn more about the in’s and outs of networking? Read our recruiter approved guide to professional networking.
What Are The Leading Industries in Montana?
According to Montana’s Department of Labor and Industry – GDP contributors consist of financial activities, government, healthcare, trade, services, transportation and utilities, manufacturing, construction, and leisure activities. As I become more familiar with leading industries in Montana, I’ll understand their needs and the happenings in the area.
- Healthcare: Montana’s healthcare sector is growing steadily. Nurses, doctors, and medical professionals can connect with colleagues and potential employers through professional associations like the Montana Medical Association.
- Technology: Montana’s tech scene is flourishing, with companies focusing on areas like software development, geospatial technologies, and cybersecurity. Networking events hosted by organizations like the Montana High Tech Business Alliance can be a great way to meet tech professionals.
- Tourism & Hospitality: Montana’s natural beauty attracts tourists year-round. Hotels, resorts, and travel agencies actively seek qualified individuals. Networking at tourism conferences or through chambers of commerce can be rather helpful if you’re looking to network in this field.
More to come here, but a great way to network is to become familiar with industry economical trends and find industry-specific events that help you become acquainted with business leaders. Eventbrite and Meetup (https://www.meetup.com/) are great resources to use!
Community Involvement
All communities have opportunities to give back – and there are a couple of ways you can get involved! Luckily, Missoula has a portal for volunteer opportunities, making it easy to find events or ongoing opportunities to participate in. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on their website for upcoming opportunities to get involved in the community!
https://www.volunteermissoula.org/event/
https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1042/Volunteer-Opportunities
Our recruiters aim to serve as community partners and like to be well connected with those around us. It’s scary to re-join a community, but even more, it’s exciting to have the opportunity to introduce myself as a part of the Route Networking Group team.
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