Business Networking

Learn effective networking skills and build stronger connections with people you meet.

Online

AI feedback

5 practice exercises

29 online lessons

Digital certificate

3 hours of learning

Course Outcomes

  • Techniques for building meaningful relationships with a wide range of people
  • How to win new business clients and advance your career
  • Why body language, what you say, and how you say it impacts relationships
  • Understand how to network effectively online
  • Examine ways to follow up and maintain relationships

Find new business connections through networking

Effective networking is an important aspect of career development. Building relationships with a wide range of people can win you new business clients, increase your chance of finding a new job, as well as advance your career.

Learn how to enjoy networking, make others feel at ease talking to you, how to enter and exit a group of people, and how to build meaningful connections. You'll learn different networking techniques with online classes and then practice these in virtual environments.

Online learning, done differently

We combine online learning with practice for a unique learning approach. At certain points throughout this public speaking course, you'll practice what you've learned.

Course Content

1. Welcome and overview
Overview of the VirtualSpeech course, including how to access the exercises and how they will improve your networking skills by letting you practice in realistic environments.
2. Preparing for a networking event
Before attending a networking event, spend time preparing in order to get the most out of it. We discuss how to research the event and other participants, what to wear, and deliver an elevator pitch.
3. Building rapport with people
Learn how to connect with people by building rapport with them. Active listening, body language, storytelling, and empathy are all covered in this section, which you'll have to chance to practice.
4. At the networking event
This section covers essential tips for the networking event, including how to start and exit a conversation, conversation starters, how to enter a group conversion, and more.
5. Networking online
Learn how to use social media and content creation to grow your online network. Discover how best to follow up, maintain connections you have made, and connect with people you didn't get to meet.
6. Networking opportunities and events
A review of different networking opportunities and how to find them. We cover everything from conferences to local meetup events, to hosting your own dinners.
Your Instructor

Dr. Joseph Barnard

Joseph has led technical teams at companies such as Bookham and BML, and presented at events including the AUVSI, SEG, and UAVNET conferences. He has 15 patents to his name and is a senior member of IEEE with a PhD in Electro-Physics from Cornell University.

Practice exercises

Practice your public speaking with interactive and engaging exercises. At key points during the course, you'll be prompted to practice what you've learned in one of the following exercises.

Roleplay with AI-Powered Avatars

Develop your networking skills with ChatGPT-powered avatars, who adapt to what you say in a dynamic and personalized way. Practice opening conversations, your elevator pitch, leaving conversations, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

1How do I access the online classes and practice exercises?

You can access the classes through the VirtualSpeech website, on any standard web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

The practice exercises can be completed online or in virtual reality (if you have a VR headset).

2When do I get access to the training?

When you enroll in the course, you'll get 24/7 access to the course (including tutorial videos, case studies, practice exercises, VR, and more) through the VirtualSpeech website and in VR.

3What equipment do I need for the practice exercises?

Both the online classes and exercises run in your browser, no additional software or download is required.

If you have a VR headset, you can also access the practice exercises in VR. Here's a list of our recommended VR headsets.

The online exercises have been tested across multiple browsers and run smoothly on Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Edge.

4How can I pay?

We accept payment via Credit Card, Debit Card or PayPal directly through the VirtualSpeech site. If you'd like to pay with an Invoice or using another payment method, please contact us.

5Can I buy this course for multiple people / my team?

Yes you can. After pressing the 'Buy Now' button on this page, select the number of users (maximum is 25).

After the payment, you'll be made course admin and can add users to the course from the admin dashboard.

6Can I get a certificate when I complete this course?

Yes, when you've completed this course, we'll send you a Certificate of Achievement, which you can share in the Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile, on printed resumes, CVs, or other documents.

7What is the refund policy?

If the course does not meet your expectations, you can get a full refund within 7 days of purchasing the course.