👗 Dress appropriately
Match your dress to match the formality of the event, this will make you feel part of the networking group and feel more comfortable and approachable
📵 Turn your phone off!
This might be an obvious one but make sure your phone is turned off or at least on silent. Enjoy the company of the people in the room whilst the opportunity is presented
😊 Approach with a smile
If you walk in to a room smiling you will find that it makes you more approachable to everyone, creating a positive and confident air and one that people are likely to remember. Follow this up with a strong handshake to give a great first impression
💬 Compliment
Use a compliment to break the ice and make a connection with someone. Compliment a person’s clothing, a hairstyle or any comments that they may have made during interactions or presentations, just make sure you are sincere
🙅♂️ Don’t interrupt!
When everyone is talking at networking events it can get loud so it can be hard to not end up talking over people accidentally. Try to watch out for doing this and always apologise if you end up doing so
🗣️ Take the opportunity to talk and listen
Try not to monopolise the conversation when talking, listen as much as engaging and show interest in others. Keep the conversation to professional topics initially whilst building relationships
👁️ Maintain eye contact
Try to not look elsewhere too much when speaking to someone, maintaining eye contact shows a level of respect and shows that you are listening
📇 Business Cards
Don’t give your business card to everyone, you will be able to gauge which individuals you will genuinely want to connect with further so don’t waste your time or others by just handing out business cards left, right and centre!
👋 Exit Respectfully
End a conversation as politely as you started one, utilise phrases such as “It was lovely talking to you, I’ll let you go and chat with others now” to ensure you leave a positive impression even when closing the interaction
🙏 Saying Thank You
Following the event make sure you follow-up thanking the people you encountered, let them know you appreciated the opportunity to connect and how you look forward to continuing the relationship in the future
Networking is all about building relationships and that is often easier to do when you are relaxed, being yourself and enjoying the experience. So go ahead and embrace these etiquette tips and make your networking more enjoyable and therefore successful!