Attending conferences is an excellent way for dietitians to expand their network, learn from industry leaders, and discover new trends and innovations in the field of nutrition.

But for many professionals, the idea of networking can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re attending a local nutrition conference or a large national event like FNCE, mastering the art of networking is crucial for career growth and development.

In this article, we’ll explore painless and practical networking strategies that you can apply at any professional conference to help you make meaningful connections and build relationships that can advance your career.

Why networking at a conference is helpful

Networking at FNCE or any nutrition conference can open doors for your career in ways you might not expect. Whether you’re looking to build a private practice, partner with food brands, land speaking engagements, or connect to a new job, fostering or expanding your network is essential. And it can be fun!

• Access to Job Opportunities: Connecting with fellow dietitians, employers, and brands can expose you to opportunities you might not find elsewhere.
• Learning and Growth: Conversations with peers and leaders can introduce you to new ideas, practices, or specialties that enhance your career development.
• Building Collaborations: Collaborations with food brands and fellow dietitians are often born from connections made at conferences.

Stacey's Tips for Confidently Networking

I've been to the FNCE conference or over 20 years! Yes, I still get anxious just thinking about meeting all those dietitians all in one convention center. But I've learned a few tricks to help me feel less stressed and out of my league. Here are some of my tips to feel more confident.

1. Bring your business cards - Yes, the paper ones. It gives you something to do with your hands while you are talking and gives you an opportunity to connect with or collaborate at a later date. While you are there get theirs as well. I keep mine in my name tag's lanyard.

2. Prep your questions ahead of time - Go in with some preset questions for the small talk. My mind is always racing with ideas for NutritionJobs or interviewing the next amazing dietitian so when I meet someone on the spot in person it takes me a few minutes to properly transition. Having a preset bank of small talk questions (that aren't about the weather). I often talk about some session or some food item I discovered in the expo.

3. Find your connections - Make a list a few people you want to meet and have a few preset conversation starters. Do you want to work with them or pick their brain about working in a different focus area? Get prepped for that conversation ahead of time.

4. Show up early - Go to the small networking sessions on the early side so not too overwhelming when you show up. When I arrive at the small group sessions that are already in full swing where people are already in circles of conversation I feel nervous about approaching them. I also like to stand towards the entrance of an event so I catch people coming in!

5. Have fun!It doesn't need to be all business. These big events can be overwhelming so give yourself permission to not be "working" the entire time

Tips for painless networking at conferences

Here are several strategies to make networking feel less intimidating and more effective at conferences.

1. Set a Networking Goal

Before the conference starts, set clear networking goals for yourself. Are you hoping to meet someone in a specific area of dietetics, learn about a career transition, or connect with potential employers? Setting goals can focus your interactions and give you a sense of accomplishment as you work through them.

Pro Tip: Make a list of key people or companies you’d like to meet before attending, and research where they’ll be during the conference (e.g., at booths, sessions, or meet-and-greets).

2. Start with Low-Stakes Conversations

If you’re nervous about diving into a big conversation with a keynote speaker or industry leader, start small. Engage with fellow attendees during breaks, at casual meetups, or in line for coffee. These low-pressure interactions can help warm you up for more significant networking opportunities later.

Pro Tip: Ask questions like, “Which session are you most excited about?” or “What do you specialize in?” or "How did you get your job?" These are simple, non-intrusive ways to get the conversation started.

3. Join Organized Networking Events

FNCE often has pre-arranged networking events that can take some of the pressure off making introductions. Whether it’s a luncheon, a happy hour, or a meet-and-greet organized by a specific professional group, these events are designed for networking and tend to foster a relaxed atmosphere.

Pro Tip: Look for DPG groups you might belong to, such as dietitians in private practice, diabetes educators, or sports nutritionists, and attend their events to meet like-minded professionals.

4. Come Prepared with Business Cards (or Digital Alternatives)

Even in the digital age, business cards remain a valuable tool at conferences like FNCE. If you don’t have cards, you can use digital alternatives like LinkedIn’s QR code or digital contact-sharing apps. Having something tangible (or easily shareable) ensures that you can continue the connection after the conference.

Pro Tip: Add a personalized touch to your business card by including your specialty or a service you provide. For instance, “Registered Dietitian – Specializing in Gut Health” can give people a quick sense of who you are. I always bring business cards.

5. Be a Listener

Networking isn’t just about talking about yourself; it’s about building genuine relationships. By listening closely to others and asking thoughtful questions, you’ll stand out as someone who is interested and engaged, rather than someone just trying to “sell” themselves.

Pro Tip: After each conversation, jot down a quick note on the back of their business card (or in your phone) to help you remember key points of the discussion for follow-up.

6. Follow Up After the Conference

Networking doesn’t end when FNCE is over. The follow-up is where the magic happens. After the conference, send personalized messages to those you met, whether it’s through email, LinkedIn, or even a direct message on social media. Reference something from your conversation to make the connection memorable, and mention how you’d like to stay in touch.

Pro Tip: Don’t delay the follow-up! Send your messages within a week of the conference to keep the momentum going.

7. Use Social Media to Stay Engaged

Social media is an excellent tool to maintain and grow the connections you make at FNCE. Engage with speakers, fellow attendees, and exhibitors on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter. Use conference hashtags like #FNCE to join in on conversations and stay relevant.

Pro Tip: Share your own FNCE experiences on social media by posting about sessions you attend or key takeaways. Tag people or companies in your posts to keep the conversation going post-conference.

8. Volunteer or Participate in Panel Discussions

One of the best ways to get noticed at FNCE is by volunteering or participating in panel discussions. Volunteering at the event can give you behind-the-scenes access to key people, and being part of a discussion panel positions you as a thought leader in your field.

Pro Tip: Even if you’re not speaking on a panel, prepare a thoughtful question for the Q&A portions of sessions. This shows your engagement and might spark further conversations afterward.

9. Stay Comfortable, Stay Confident

Networking can be exhausting, especially at a large conference like FNCE. Make sure to wear comfortable clothing and shoes so you can focus on the conversations and not on your aching feet. Confidence can be as simple as a good posture, a friendly smile, and remembering that everyone else is there to network too.

Pro Tip: If you start feeling overwhelmed, take breaks to recharge. Grab a coffee or go for a short walk to reset and return refreshed.

Christianna Gozzi's Conference Playbook for Dietitians

My dietitian friend Christianna Gozzi is a networking expert. She helps dietitians excel at networking effortlessly. I recently interviewed her to get her insights. You can watch our interview here. Here are some of her tips:

1. Update your LinkedIn photo, headline, about section, and contact info.
2. Send connection requests to 10 speakers you plan to see.
3. Follow 10 target brands and draft quick post templates you can use to tag them.
4. Pack business cards that include a QR code to your LinkedIn profile.
5. Prepare three curiosity questions you can ask anyone you meet.
6. Block your sessions, learning lounges, and meetups on your calendar.
7. Schedule a daily energy buffer so you can recover between events.
8. Queue your post-event LinkedIn follow-ups with short, specific notes.
9. Build a simple contacts sheet and set reminders for next steps.

Pro networking tips from Leah Tsui, MS, RDN, LDN

1. Keep your business cards handy – I like placing a few in my badge holder for easy access to exchange with others.
   
2. Ask for others’ business cards, and write a little note about your conversation afterwards. This helps me remember who they are, amongst all the faces we see at FNCE^®, and then when I follow-up via email or social media, I can insert something personal.
   
3. Look for the person who seems a little lost, and offer a helping hand. I still remember attending my first FNCE conference as a graduate student with some trepidation. Other RDNs were kind to me as a first-year attendee, and I hope to keep passing that forward.
   
4. Connect about what you do AND what sets you apart as a nutrition entrepreneur. Of course we want to talk about our jobs, but it’s also nice to connect about who we are as individuals and what we love outside of the nutrition world.
   
5. Are there some folks that you’d definitely like to meet? Check the schedule and see who’s speaking. Make sure to bookmark their talks, and see if you can introduce yourself afterwards.
   
6. Take breaks! Conferences are a lot, and even as an extrovert, I need time to recharge alone. Find a coffee shop that’s away from the conference hotels, or take a midday break at your lodgings, and do something completely unrelated. Your brain and body will thank you!

7 Networking Tips for People Who Dislike Networking from Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN:

1. Be Self-Aware & Start Small. “As a self-proclaimed introverted dietitian, networking can be intimidating for me. Self-awareness is the biggest first step. ‘How do networking events make me feel?’ If you're like me, try starting small. For example, choose one person per event to talk to, and increase as you hit your goal consistently,” advises Jess Serdikoff, RDN, CPT, Empowering Dietitians, Instagram: @empowering.dietitians.
2. Be a Good Listener. Enter the networking event with a few open-ended questions to ask. Spend most of the time listening to what others tell you. You learn about them and you don’t necessarily have to focus on you, which can be uncomfortable for those who don’t enjoy having a spotlight on themselves.
3. Give Yourself De-Compression Time. “After an event, give yourself plenty of decompressing ‘chill’ time to recharge,” notes Serdikoff. Allow yourself to relax alone in order to find the balance from being around a lot of people.
4. Join a Committee or Professional Group. “Joining a committee, volunteering for an organization in your field, or joining a professional group allows connections to be made in a natural and authentic way, without having to make uncomfortable small talk or forced connections,” informs Diana Orenstein, MS, RD, Fresh Start Women’s Nutrition, Facebook: @fswomensnutrition.
5. Host a Dinner Party. “I have hosted potluck-style dinners with two to three dietitians at my house. It is an easy and comfortable way to meet and mingle. The dinners have now grown to eleven people!” updates Diana Dugan Richards, RDN, Nutrition Therapist, Certified IFS Practitioner, Namaste Nutrition.
6. Leave Materials About What You Do. “I'm just getting started in private practice and I find that local service providers such as hairdressers, spas, chiropractors, massage therapists, PT/OT, speech therapists, and doctor's offices are great places to network. I put a few flyers and business cards in a folder and leave it there for them. I let them know my business is new in town and I would appreciate any referrals,” notifies Jennifer Smart, MS, RD, LDN, CLT, Smart Nutrition, LLC, Instagram: @jsmartnutrition.
7. Follow-Up. After any event or situation where you meet people or leave your contact information, always follow-up. An easy follow-up is through email. Send a quick note to keep the relationship going.

Takeaways

Remember, building relationships is the main goal of networking. Find your strengths. Start small. Continue to meet people. And you will grow your friendships and networking community.