8 Types of Networking Events & Where to Find Them

Although the nature of networking has changed with social media, it remains effective in commercial real estate for career development, business development, and finding marketing leads. In-person networking events take many shapes and vary in purpose and effectiveness depending on your goal, which we’ll explain. A trade show, for example, is a networking event that may be effective for businesses that share interests in products and services. Networking meetups may also suit those purposes, in addition to serving personal goals such as career growth. Virtual networking, on the other hand, has created even more ways to connect through forums and online socials.   

In this post, we’ll explore the different types of CRE networking events, the pros and cons of each, and tips on tracking down CRE events. For tips on getting the most out of CRE networking, see How to Get the Most Out of CRE Networking Events.

CRE Career Networking Events

Sometimes also called a “job fair” or “professional networking event,” a career networking event is where companies set up booths or stations so that students and job-seekers can get information and potentially apply for positions. Attendees bring copies of their resumes, business cards, and elevator pitches: quick explanations of their experiences and expertise. 

Companies can also benefit from attending career networking events, especially if they’re expanding and looking for new employees. That said, career networking events can be hit-or-miss, as there’s often a lot of competition among job seekers.

How to Find: Career networking events are usually organized by colleges and universities to help their graduating students get a head start on the job hunt.

Pros:

• Good for job seekers and recent graduates without much on-the-job experience

• Potential source for advice from recruiters about skills and knowledge that advance your career

• Opportunity to practice for interviewing, extemporaneous speaking, and applying for jobs

Cons:

• Difficult to stand out from the crowd

• Competitive environment, which can be intimidating

• Less useful if you already have experience; career networking events are typically for entry-level positions

Real Estate Industry Networking Events

A CRE industry networking event is an in-person meetup designed for or around the commercial real estate industry, or a niche within the industry. These events are usually organized by notable companies or CRE organizations/associations (NAIOP, Retail Contractors Association, or BOMA chapters, for example) for industry-specific socialization and information sharing. 

An industry networking event can be framed around a topic, such as a cutting-edge new development in CRE, but the main purpose for you might be building out your network and meeting other professionals. For career development, making new connections, and even securing potential leads, industry networking events can be valuable. 

How to Find: Joining a CRE association or regularly checking a networking board, such as Bisnow events or CRE Daily events.

Pros: 

• Access to CRE-specific information (e.g., emerging proptech) and business connections (e.g., potential investors)

• Useful for established professionals who want to build their networks

• Finding career opportunities relevant to a higher level of experience or your specific skill set

Cons:

• They can be difficult to find, or are infrequent for your specific niche

• Sometimes requires travel, regionally, nationally or internationally 

• May require a paid association membership

CRE-Related Trade Shows

Sometimes called a conference or trade fair, trade shows are typically hosted in expo halls and bring CRE professionals from across the country (or world) who set up booths to showcase their products and services. Trade shows are all-in-one stops for networking, finding new leads, growing your business, and learning about CRE trends and technologies. Trade shows may also offer seminars and breakout sessions for attendees. 

Trade fairs tend to be hosted in major urban centers and require a ticket or pass to attend. They’re usually hosted annually or at a specific interval (quarterly, biannually). Exhibitors have the opportunity to showcase their businesses and spread awareness about their brands on a greater scale. Attendees who aren’t exhibitors have that opportunity on a smaller scale, through one-to-one or group conversations.    

How to Find: Bisnow events and professional social media, or joining the mailing list for CRE-specific trade associations. 

Pros:

• Great for B2B connections and increasing your brand awareness

• Gain new knowledge and insight into CRE trends like proptech, business development strategies, etc.

• A wide swath of connection opportunities, from jobs to finding potential investors

Cons:

• Attendance and exhibition passes can get expensive

• Trade shows can be overwhelming, especially as a first-time attendee

• Many sessions may not be relevant, so time management is key.

B2B Networking Mixers or Parties

A networking mixer, party, dinner, or other social gathering is a more intimate networking setting. The number of attendees ranges based on the type of event, but mixers can cultivate a more casual atmosphere where one-on-one business connections are easier to make. A popular strategy is to help others build connections alongside you. If you hear about someone looking for specific opportunities, direct them to the right person to talk to, and facilitate introductions. 

Your goal for attending a networking mixer can vary, as you generally have to be tactful about it due to the atmosphere naturally being more social than business. If you’re looking for more B2B opportunities, being too overt with your pitch may scare off potential connections. On the other hand, you still need to make the most out of the event, otherwise, it’s just another social event. 

How to Find: Local CRE-specific social groups, mailing lists, and local event pages. 

Pros:

• Cultivates meaningful connections with local CRE and related professionals

• Discovering job opportunities outside of public job boards

• Will usually occur more regularly, such as on a monthly basis

Cons: 

• Can be difficult to find, may be invitation only

• Socially more daunting than a conference or trade show

• May skew more social than business

Real Estate Seminars and Workshops

CRE-specific seminars and workshops center around a speaker or business that teaches attendees about a specific topic. In a seminar, a speaker or panel of speakers present on a topic with or without Q&A. A workshop tends to be more hands on and participatory. 

Networking definitely occurs at these workshops with your fellow attendees, even though events tend to be focused around learning about a topic. For CRE, this could be how a new technological innovation affects the real estate industry, for example, and how professionals can make the most of it. 

Although you should be interested in the skill and information that you’re acquiring from the seminar, don’t undervalue the potential business connections you’ll make. From other CRE professionals to CRE-adjacent fields (architecture, lenders, property management, etc.), there will be plenty of other attendees you can potentially meet.

How to Find: Bisnow events and following groups on professional social media that host workshops

Pros:

• Excellent for learning new skills

• Career development — discover skills or abilities you didn’t know you needed

• Good networking practice for newbies

Cons: 

• May require a fee to attend, or to listen to a sales pitch from the host

• May not be as useful for established professionals, as many attendees tend to be entry-level or early career

• Advertised topic may not align with your specific role or goals 

Virtual/Online Networking Events

Online networking has grown in popularity since the pandemic, and it remains a useful method for meeting and growing a wider, global network. Online networking can take many forms, from webinars to virtual social events similar to a mixer. Virtual events are more feasible for those who don’t live near major urban centers.

For CRE, you may find a virtual event through LinkedIn, for example, where experts give a talk in the form of a live stream that attendees can post questions during. Or, CRE associations may leverage virtual platforms to facilitate communication between members across the U.S. or globe. 

How to Find: Virtual events can be difficult to find, but will sometimes be posted on Bisnow events and CRE event pages.

Pros:

• Excellent for new, unexpected business opportunities

• Flexible for attendees in different parts of the world or with travel restrictions

• Lower cost and commitment than an in-person event

Cons:

• It can be awkward or difficult to make connections

• It may be difficult to connect with the speaker or get noticed

• Technology can be a challenge (for example, dropped connections)

Speed Networking

A speed networking event is where a host situates attendees at different tables, and they speak to each other for 5-10 minutes. After the time is up, the seats rotate, and they make a new connection. Speed networking can feel frantic — and fun — but if your goal is a greater volume of connections, it can be useful.

For CRE, speed networking will have a range of types of attendees, most commonly entry-level and those who are just starting out in the industry. You won’t find as many established professionals at speed networking events unless they are the ones hosting the event. 

How to Find: Local social groups, CRE event pages, and as mini events within conferences and trade shows 

Pros: 

• Great for meeting new people and building out your network

• Good networking practice for your elevator pitch

Cons:

• Not as useful for established professionals

• Lower value connections (limited time to assess rapport or relevance)

Professional Association Meetups

There are many CRE-specific associations that host meetups, retreats, and other events for their members. These events are exclusive to association members, and often offer higher value connections than some of the other events listed here. They can be useful for career development as well as B2B connections. 

The format of a professional meetup can take any of the above forms — trade shows, speed networking, mixers and B2B networking lunches, for example. Trade shows and networking events may even have separate sessions hosted exclusively for professional association members.

How to Find: Join associations like NAIOP to find local chapters or national events. 

Pros:

• High-value connections in an exclusive setting

• Excellent for established professionals looking to make business partnerships

• Good method for finding new job opportunities

Cons:

• Requires membership in an association, usually with dues

• May initially feel difficult to break into well-established groups