Put Yourself Out There!
You might feel awkward going to an event as a student. But here is the secret: everyone is feeling a little awkward. Making conversation with people you don’t know is hard. But networking events are great because talking to strangers is expected: in fact, that is why everyone is there. They want to meet people and connect. The simplest way to start a conversation is to introduce yourself and then ask someone what they do for work. You can always have other questions to help build the conversation:
- “That’s great; what company do you work for?”
- “How long have you been there?”
- “How long have you been doing that?”
Once you ask the questions, be an active listener. Inquire further about projects, activities, and personal hobbies. Show you are interested in connecting with them through your actions and body language. The best connections are the ones where you discover shared interests and common goals. If you are attending an event where you have access to the attendance list, consider researching attendees to help you build connections and conversation.