How to Network

Think about how you are going to break the ice with a stranger friend you don’t know yet. It doesn’t have to be complicated or entertaining. Simply walk up to someone, introduce yourself instead of waiting to be approached, and start with any of the following:

The list could go on and I am sure you get the idea, but ice breakers are helpful to think about before you go in case of crowd shock.  You’ll look like a pro!

This doesn’t mean faking your experience. It just means faking your confidence by crafting a mini commercial about yourself that is memorable. Having your 15 seconds written and practiced beforehand will save you panic and mumbling when you are asked about yourself.  So what do you say when someone asks, “What do you do?”  You need to state

This will help the person you are talking to have a base from which to ask additional questions. Since you are up to date on your skills, it will be easy to elaborate on your experience

Now that you both know a little about each other’s experience, see if you can help them with anything. Since I work at Brightwing I may say,

or if they are unemployed or are looking for something new,

If I were unemployed and looking to make a transition, I could also ask for help,

Even if the outcome isn’t a connection between you and this immediate person, they may refer you to someone or vice-versa.

How do you get past hello? If you have any other tips or smooth operator tricks, we would love to hear them!

Author: Elyse Lopez