How to Network Like a Pro during OTC
Houston’s Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is the quintessential event for oil and gas professionals. And if you’re a new entrant to the industry or attending OTC for the first time, the event can be daunting.
Oil and gas is a people industry and networking is important. So Rigzone tapped six-time OTC attendee Anthony Caridi, who is division manager for QTSI – A Qualitec Company, and is hosting the second annual Reaching Out and Reaching Up: Networking in the Downturn session May 1 during OTC. Caridi shares his advice on how to navigate OTC and network like a pro.
Rigzone: Why is OTC the optimal time for an industry newbie to network?
Caridi: Being able to see hands-on what type of equipment they would be working on is important. The first time I attended OTC, I couldn’t believe how amazing a lot of the equipment was. Newbies should see what they’re getting into … and it’s awesome stuff. Also, people from all over the world are there. You will not find as many oil and gas professionals in one place anywhere else – just from a pure volume perspective, it’s awesome.
Rigzone: Who should you target during OTC?
Caridi: In most cases, the people at the booths are application engineers or executives. It’s not necessarily a matter of who you should seek out as it is maximizing the amount of people you talk to in a given period of time. What I’ve seen people do while networking that is a bad idea is after you meet the first or second person you talk to and you both hit it off, you spend the entire time talking to the same person because it’s comfortable. That crushes your percentages. For example, if you talk to one person and they know 10 people, that’s 10 new contacts. If you talk to 100 people and they each know 10 people – it expands very fast. Remember, the idea is to gather the information you need, so when you contact these people later, you can reference OTC. This is not a details game. Networking is a contact sport.
Rigzone: How do you know what to say or start a conversation?
Caridi: Keep it relatively light-hearted, move quickly and develop a 20-second version of yourself – or elevator pitch. If someone asks you about yourself, you should have that pitch ready. If you don’t yet know this, ask your closest friends what they think you’re good at. That’s what you should talk about.
Rigzone: OTC week is full of “invite only” meetups, luncheons and other social mixers which can be key networking opportunities. How can young professionals get their foot in the door at these events?
Caridi: Volunteer. If it’s an event or cause that you believe in or would like to know more about, call and ask how you can help. People rarely get those kinds of calls, so they’ll be thrilled.
Rigzone: How is networking during OTC different than any other event?
Caridi: It’s not. You do have to know your audience, though. If I’m talking to someone who builds cranes out of a shipyard, it’s a different conversation than if I’m talking to a company executive. It’s the same information, just a different conversation.
Rigzone: How should you follow up after OTC?
Caridi: As a young professional, I would follow up with a phone call and say, “hey, we spoke briefly during OTC …” You don’t have to go into detail, they probably will not remember you due to the high volume of people they will have encountered. You have to use the reciprocity principle as much as possible. Essentially, it’s ‘if I do something for you, your instinct is to want to help me out.’ For example, you can call and say, “we just finished up research on XYZ at my school. Do you think this research would of interest to your company?” And only call companies when it makes sense. If it’s a software company that is looking to hire software engineers and you’re a mechanical engineer, that doesn’t make sense. Your research wouldn’t be valuable to them, so you shouldn’t be calling them. You can still follow up, just not with a phone call.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- ExxonMobil Racks Up Discoveries in Guyana Block Eyed by Chevron
- Oil Market Sentiment Has Improved Significantly
- EU, US Eye Collaboration on Nuclear Materials
- USA Driving Activity to Increase to All-Time Highs
- EU Electricity Export to Ukraine Up 94 Percent in Two Years
- China Coal Output Falls for First Time since Government Ordered More
- TC Energy to Sell Prince Rupert Gas Pipeline Project to First Nation
- BP Pulse Buys One of Europe's Largest Truck Stops
- UK CCUS Plans Outdated: Think Tank
- I Squared Eyes Full Ownership of Europe Gas Storage Firm
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- EIA Drops 2024 Henry Hub Gas Price Forecast
- EIA and Standard Chartered Offer Up Latest Oil Price Predictions
- Red Sea Region Sees Another Watershed Incident
- Chevron Oil Project in Kazakhstan to Cost $48.5B
- OPEC Voices Encouragement after IEA Affirms Support for Oil Security
- Biden Govt Bares Strategy for Freight Charging, Hydrogen Fueling Infra
- Ukraine Hits Third Russian Refinery In Escalating Drone Strikes
- Rystad Looks at the Buzz Around White Hydrogen
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Is Peak Oil Demand Close?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Reveal Latest Oil Price Forecasts
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Rystad Forecasts Net Production of Top Permian Producers in 2024
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension