Before The Event
- If possible, take a look at an RSVP list in order to get an idea of who is attending. Is there anyone in particular you would like to meet?
- Practice your ‘elevator speech.’ For students, your goal is to articulate your career goals, how that ties in to your current major, where you see yourself after graduation or summer internship. At the event I always think you should be specific on your career goals.
At the Event
- Introduce yourself. Networking events & mixers can become extremely awkward if most people avoid eye contact, and don’t plan on meeting people. You can eliminate this awkwardness by being the one to walk straight up to people, simply saying hello and introducing yourself.
- Don’t just talk to people you know, make it a point to speak with people that you’ve never met with before.
- Use a buddy system. I’ve always found that it can be effective if you have a “partner in crime.” Someone that you can meet other people with, and since you know each other it can keep the conversation flowing smoother when meeting someone new.
- Stay away from groups. If you find yourself talking in a group of people that you already know, take a moment to walk away to freshen up your drink, etc. It will give you an opportunity to avoid getting stuck with this same group all night.
- Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. This is absolutely one of the best ways to differentiate yourself, believe it or not. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can about the person you’re meeting. Some sample questions might be:
- How long have you been with your current company? What do you like about it? What attracted you to the position when you joined?
- How did you get started in your career? How have you progressed from your first position to where you are now?
- What advice would you give to someone that was interested in a career like yours?
- What brought you to the event tonight?
- Exchange information. If you have a good conversation with them, ask them for their card, and be able to provide them with your information.
- Email a ‘nice to meet’ you email, or connect via LinkedIn with a note expressing an interest in keeping in touch.
- Explore the option of meeting someone for coffee, or asking for an informational meeting to learn more about their business. People love sharing information and would be happy to do this with you if you ask.
