You attend a networking event to meet new people and hopefully have meaningful and helpful conversations. It’s great when you find someone you connect with and it can be tempting to want to spend the entire evening talking. Resist the temptation because your objective is to have genuine connections with a handful of people.
We’ve all heard the phrase it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. You never know if someone you meet at a networking event will become a friend, client, mentor, employee, or reference. You wouldn’t greet someone at a networking event, hand them your resume, and explain why they should hire you. But you never know if someone you meet at a networking event can introduce you to someone at your “dream job” or recommend you to someone who can.
It can feel awkward to exit a conversation and move on to another. You might even be nervous that the person will think you’re rude. But it’s possible to gracefully and tactfully end the conversation without ending the relationship.
- Be honest:
Saying you are going to go to the restroom, get something to eat, or refill your drink is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Pamela Weinberg, a New York City-based career coach recommends being honest. “Wrap up your conversation by thanking the person for their time and letting them know that you enjoyed meeting them,” says Weinberg. “Then say something like, ‘Please excuse me, I want to catch Jim, my former colleague, to say hello before he leaves,’” she Weinberg adds.
- Schedule time to follow up:
If you want to meet other people but stay in touch, ask for their contact information. Don’t feel obligated to ask for someone’s information because you think it’s polite. Only ask for their information if you are going to use it. You don’t want to lead anyone on.
“After a good conversation seems like it’s coming to an end, offer a handshake to your fellow attendee, look them in the eye, smile, and say something such as, ‘Leon, it was great to meet you tonight. I do want to connect with a few other folks while I am here, but can we exchange contact information to stay in touch,’” says Kevin Grubb, executive director of the Villanova University Career Center based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As Grubb notes, mentioning the person’s name will make them feel recognized and help you remember their name in the future.
- Make an introduction:
When you’re talking to someone one-on-one it’s polite to introduce them to someone else so they’re not a lone wolf. Emily Merrell, founder of Six Degrees Society a multi-city networking group based in New York City recommends introducing the person to someone you know at the event before parting ways. “Say something like ‘I want to introduce you to my friend Beth. I think you’ll have a lot in common — she also transitioned from a large corporation to a startup,’” Merrell says.
You don’t want to treat a networking event like a speed dating event where you have a short time to meet as many people as possible. No one wants to feel like someone they are talking to is looking around the room for the next person to meet. Focus on having authentic, impactful conversations with a handful of people before gracefully exiting the conversation to meet someone new. Focus on quality over quantity. Follow these tips and you want to monopolize your time (or theirs) without closing off the ability to create a professional ally.
