Perfect Career Networking Conversation Starters

Perfect Career Networking Conversation StartersPerfect Career Networking Conversation StartersFor some people networking is easy. They love talking to anyoneand everyonethey meet. For others, its not so simple. Attending networking events can be a challenge if youre not comfortable talking to strangers, but its always worth giving it a try. In-part networking remainsone of the best ways to keep your career moving forwardand to get hired. People are more likely to offer assistance to someone they know personally, and with a little preparation you can make and cement relationships with contacts who can help you out. There are many differenttypes of career networking programs, and its easy tofind networking eventsthat are worth attending. Even though it can be hard to start a conversation when youre one of those not-so-extroverted people, there are strategies you can employtoengage the person youre talking with and to keep the conversation moving forward. Get Ready for a Conversation (or Two) Take time to create abrief elevator speech,so youre ready to describe the professional you and what you do. Review the attendee list if its available. If theres anyone special youd like to meet, review their LinkedIn profile andlearn about the companythey work for. Jot down a few notes so you remember who will be there, the company they work for, and their role at the company, when youre at the program. When youre at the event, remember to check name tags to see where the other participants work. The tag may also have their job title listed. Asking about someones job and employer are always good ways to get a conversation started. Also, be on the lookout for the people you flagged when you reviewed the attendee list. What can you say? What interesting similarities might youexplore? How can you turn a quick introduction into an engaging discussion? Once youve got over the hurdle ofmaking an introduction to start the conversation, one of the easiest ways to continue the con versation is to make it about the person youre talking to, rather than about yourself. Asking questions saves you from thinking about what to say, and gives you an opportunity to ask follow-up questions that will keep the discussion going. Its also fine to say that youre new to this, youre a bit nervous, and youd be happy to have someone to talk to or to give you some advice. 16 Career Networking Conversation Starters Here are some one-liners and some more in-depth conversation starters that will help tokeepyou on track and get the most out of all the networking programs and events you go to Questions About the veranstaltung What brings you to this program/event/meeting?What do you think about the events so far?Have you attended before? What was the best part of the program?What do think of this venue/location?Do you know any of the speakers? Which would you recommend?What are you looking to get from this event/conference/program? What do you think youll take away from it?This i s my first time at this event. Is there a session I shouldnt miss going to? Questions Asking for Advice or Information Mention that recommendation when you meet the next person Hi,first person you metsuggested I talk with you.I see that you work for ABC companywhat do you do? What does the company do? If you know someone else who is employed at the company, now is a good time to mention the person you have in common.How did you get started in your career/industry? What do you love about what you do? Is there anything youre not a big fan of?When youre familiar with the company or haveread about it when you were doing research for the program, ask about the berichterstattung youve read, new products that have been released, or anything else thats timely and relevant. You can always get a little personal and if the person is wearing an interesting piece of clothing or accessory, you can comment on it. For example, I love your scarf, its a really nice color. Or Thats a terrific bag, whe re did you get it? Do be careful though, and dont overdo it or get so personal that it could be construed as offensive. Follow up your compliment by introducing yourself. For example Im your name and Im glad to meet you.If the program has food and drinks, asking whether the person youre talking to would like to grab a coffee or water, or some food or a snack, is another way to keep the conversation moving. Im here from out of town do you have any recommendations for places to go or things to do while Im at the conference? Questions for When You Need Help Im your name and I dont know anyone here. Could I chat with you? As a follow-up, you could ask if the person has any recommendations for other people you should talk to.Im new at this and not very good at networking, but Id love to talk to you if you have the time. Remember that youre not the only one who doesnt like networking, and even if the person is a pro at it, youve given them an opportunity to respond either way. What to Avoid Asking Its always a good idea to avoid politics because you dont know which side of the political spectrum the person youre chatting with is on. The last thing you need to start is a negative conversation about the state of the union. The weather may seem like a neutral topic, but if someone had flight delays or cancellations on the way to the event, or a storm was coming up that would impede their travel home, it may not be a pleasant conversation. When Networking Feels Like Its Really Hard When you feel like youre fumbling for words, even Hi, Im your name and Im pleased to meet you works. Remember, the person youre talking to may be feeling awkward as well, and you could be doing them a favor just by saying hello. Another strategy to tryoften recommended for public speaking, but whichworks for networking toois to pretend youre someone else a master networker who likes doing these events. Youre like an actor performing in the role of someone who loves making conversation . If youre really stressed about networking, there are ways you canfeel more comfortable working the room. You might not end up loving the experience, but you may actually like it a little and youll be better prepared for the next time around.