7 Networking Events for Young Professionals in Europe: Your 2027 Shortlist

A student badge gets you into a career fair. An under-25 trade finance pass gets you into a room full of people already doing the work. I’d choose based on which conversation would help you take your next step.

Here are seven networking events for young professionals in Europe in 2027, including an online option. Use the contents to find the right route for meeting employers, mentors or peers.

1. ERFA Oslo: get to know the maritime industry

Erfaringskonferansen (ERFA) takes place on 19–20 January at Clarion Hotel The Hub. I would use it if you’re new to maritime engineering, shipping or the supplier side and want to hear how other organisations approach problems you see at work.

Norwegian Maritime Exporters lists a reduced rate for young professionals below 35, alongside member and non-member rates. It also lists a conference dinner; check the registration inclusions and session language if either determines whether you can take part.

If you’ve only worked on one side of a project, find someone on the other side. An engineer at a supplier might ask a ship operator what makes a new system hard to maintain, then take that answer back to the design team.

2. Amsterdam Career Days: talk to employers as a student

Amsterdam Career Days runs on 1–5 March, with on-site activities at Hotel CASA Amsterdam and some activities elsewhere. It focuses on business, economics, finance and related fields, and the organisers say students from universities beyond the two host institutions are welcome.

I’d use the company fair to compare how two employers describe the work they give new hires. Ask someone doing the job to walk you through a typical assignment; that’s a better way to test whether the role fits than collecting the same recruiting pitch from several stands.

The organiser describes presentations, case studies and individual meetings. Its registration page distinguishes CV-selected activities from general participation, so verify which 2027 sign-ups are open before assuming you can book a specific meeting.

If you miss a selection window, look at the open activities before giving up on the event. A focused conversation at the fair can still help you decide whether an employer is worth approaching again.

3. Vilnius: find a mentor for entrepreneurship research

The Entrepreneurship as Practice Conference runs from 31 March to 2 April at ISM University of Management and Economics. It’s my choice if you’re researching how entrepreneurs work and want feedback from scholars who use related methods.

The organiser advertises breakfast mentoring for PhD students and early-career scholars and says you can attend without presenting a paper. Its dates list general registration from 4 January to 10 March, with separate submission and selection for the paper development and emerging paper sessions.

If you’re choosing a method or struggling with an early result, bring a one-paragraph description of the problem. I’d ask a mentor which evidence they would gather next and look for a peer willing to exchange drafts afterwards.

4. OpenEU: meet recruiters without travelling

The OpenEU Virtual Job Fair is announced for 6–7 April. The organiser lists virtual employer booths, recruiter chats and career sessions for OpenEU students and alumni, with registration details still to come.

I’d put it ahead of a trip if you are eligible and still deciding which roles or countries to explore. Before registration opens, decide what you want to ask about a job or internship, such as what new hires do in their first months or where the role is based.

Amsterdam Career Days gives current students a chance to compare companies in person. OpenEU adds an online route and includes its alumni in the advertised audience; check your institution’s participation before relying on it.

Pro Tip: ask what the first piece of work looks like

Try a question you can use with a recruiter, an industry peer or a mentor: “What would you expect someone at my stage to do first?” Follow up with what you’ve already tried so they can tell you where to focus your effort.

5. Get Together: meet people running their own businesses

Get Together takes place in Mikkeli on 21–22 May, with an informal gathering listed for the evening before. Finland’s Young Entrepreneurs programme combines talks and small-group outings, with participants choosing an outing during registration.

I’d go if you’re building a business and want to talk with people facing similar decisions. A shared outing gives you time to ask how someone found their first regular customer or chose what work to turn down.

The programme information is in Finnish, so check the language and where your chosen activities take place. If you need investor introductions or corporate pilots instead of owner peers, my European startup networking guide compares the events built around those goals.

Friday’s seminar and Saturday’s outings make for different kinds of conversations. If you can attend only one day, choose based on whether you want the talks or the time in a smaller group, and check your ticket options.

6. Les Assises: try the JCI network in Dinant

JCI Belgium lists Les Assises for 21–23 May in Dinant. Alongside its members, it explicitly welcomes non-member entrepreneurs aged 18–40 who want to explore the network.

I’d choose it if you’re curious about joining a chapter and want to meet people you could work with on a project after the weekend. Training workshops and a gala are described, but confirm the detailed schedule, working language, venue and 2027 ticket route before booking.

Dinant overlaps with Mikkeli on 21–22 May. I’d choose Dinant to see how a chapter-based leadership network works, and Mikkeli if your main goal is to spend time with other owners building businesses in Finland.

If you’re new to JCI, ask a chapter member how newcomers find their first project. You’ll learn more about whether the network suits you than you would from the programme alone.

7. GTR UK: use a junior pass to understand trade finance

GTR UK takes place on 10 June at Convene, 155 Bishopsgate. The organiser lists networking time and an evening reception for the trade and export finance community.

The limited free Young Professionals Pass is for industry applicants under 25 with less than three years’ trade finance experience. The organiser also lists a place for someone on a relevant course; confirm eligibility and availability before spending money on the trip.

I’d use it to meet people who handle different parts of the same transaction, such as an exporter and a lender. If your focus is finding distributors rather than understanding how trade is financed, my London business networking guide explains which of the two events on 10 June fits that goal.

GTR lists ten industry places, with one per institution, and one place for a relevant student. If a colleague is also interested, check the institutional limit together before either of you assumes the free pass is available.

8. Where I’d start at your career stage

I’d read the ticket rules and the activity rules separately. An age discount changes the price; a selection process can determine whether you get the recruiter meeting or workshop you came for. Get confirmation for the activity that makes the trip worthwhile.

If you’re still studying, I’d choose Amsterdam Career Days to speak with employers in person or OpenEU if your university affiliation qualifies you for the online fair. If you’re a doctoral student, I’d put Vilnius first when you need a research conversation rather than a job lead.

If you’re already employed, check ERFA or GTR UK when you want a stronger network in your field. Bring one problem you’re learning to handle at work and ask how someone at another organisation approaches it.

If you run a business, I’d choose Get Together for peer advice or Les Assises to explore JCI. When neither suits your location or working language, look for an equivalent local group you can meet more than once.

If you need approval from your employer, my conference application templates can help you set out the cost and what you’ll bring back. I’d name one useful conversation and what you’ll share with your team afterwards.

Pro Tip: follow up on the thing you discussed

If someone suggested a contact, method or resource, tell them what you did with it before asking for more help. A short update gives them a reason to remember the conversation and makes it easier to keep it going.