Adulting 101: Social Do's and Don'ts at Professional Events

Abstract

Feel free to get yourself a drink. Many of these events are open bar. Just remember this is absolutely the time to sip. Pick something delicious that takes you awhile to get through. If you don't drink, that's fine too; you can always grab a water because it gives you something to do with your hands. (Seriously, what are your hands supposed to do!?) As long as you always keep things professional, feel free to visit the bar! Make sure to keep your cards handy. Don't just pass them out willy nilly or the very first second you meet someone, but cards do have a value. Personally, after a show/conference, I like to go through the cards and add those people to my LinkedIn. This way, I maintain the connection but can ditch the physical cards. There's always going to be the awkward “So what do you do?” question. It just happens. The best plan for this is to have a strong defensive game. Have a quick sentence or two prepared about what your company does and what you do there. It doesn't have to be the best bio of the year; your only goal here is to move the conversation into a more interesting territory. Another way to move the conversation into a topic you're more comfortable with is to come prepared with a few generic questions. They can be industry specific or just general small talk questions. Relax. At the end of the day, unless you personally insult someone, the worst-case scenario is that your conversation is forgettable. That happens sometimes. Find another person and start up a new conversation. Rinse and repeat throughout the evening until you find a great conversation. Have a goal (or two) in mind. They can be lofty (like landing a new client) or as simple as meeting a few new contacts. Keeping in mind what you want to get out of the night can help drive your conversations in the right direction or guide you to the right people. Take notes. Not in a weird and creepy 1940s journalist way, but if you had a great conversation with someone or they mentioned any noun (person, place, or thing) that can help you, then make a note on the aforementioned business card. There's no set formula on what you're supposed to get out of a networking event, but keep in mind networking events are supposed to be the easy part of your day.