Networking and Small Talk at Events

Professional networking — building relationships with people who may be useful to your career, and being useful to theirs — is widely recognised as one of the most powerful drivers of career success. Research consistently shows that a significant proportion of job opportunities are filled through personal connections rather than formal applications. Promotions, partnerships, clients, and mentors are often found through conversations at events, conferences, and industry gatherings rather than through official channels.

Despite knowing this, many professionals — including native English speakers — find networking uncomfortable. Approaching strangers, introducing yourself, and making conversation without an obvious purpose can feel awkward and unnatural. For non-native English speakers, this discomfort is often amplified by additional concerns: worrying about making grammatical errors, not understanding jokes or cultural references, or struggling to keep a fast-moving conversation going. The first step in overcoming this is recognising that these feelings are universal — and that the people you are approaching at a networking event are almost certainly feeling the same way.

The opening moments of a networking conversation set the tone for everything that follows. A warm, confident introduction — including your name, your role, and a brief, interesting statement about what you do — is far more memorable than a vague or apologetic opener. Instead of saying "I'm just an accountant at a small firm," try: "I work in financial compliance — I help companies avoid the regulatory risks that can really slow growth." The second version is specific, interesting, and invites a follow-up question.

Approaching someone who is standing alone is generally easier than interrupting a group conversation. If you are joining a group, wait for a natural pause before introducing yourself, and make eye contact with each person as you do so. A simple, friendly opener such as "Hi, I don't think we've met — I'm [Name] from [Company]" works in almost any professional setting. Once the introduction is made, the quickest way to build rapport is to ask a genuine question and listen actively to the answer. People remember conversations where they felt heard — not conversations where they were talked at.

Small talk — the brief, light conversation that precedes serious discussion — plays a critical role in professional relationship-building. In many English-speaking business cultures, jumping straight into business topics without any social conversation first can feel abrupt and cold. Small talk warms up the interaction, establishes common ground, and signals that you are interested in the person, not just in what they can do for you.

Safe and effective small talk topics in most English-speaking contexts include the event itself ("What did you think of the keynote speaker?"), industry trends ("Have you noticed how quickly things are changing in this sector?"), travel or location ("Have you been to this venue before?"), and recent positive news. Topics to approach with care include politics, religion, salary, and personal relationships. The goal of small talk is not to impress — it is to create a comfortable atmosphere in which a genuine professional conversation can develop. The best small talkers are not the wittiest people in the room; they are the ones who make the other person feel relaxed and interesting.

Meeting someone at a networking event is only the beginning. The real value of networking comes from the relationships that develop over time — and that requires follow-up. After a productive conversation, the standard professional practice is to connect on LinkedIn within 24 to 48 hours, while the conversation is still fresh. A personalised connection request — mentioning something specific from your conversation — is far more effective than the default LinkedIn message. For example: "It was great meeting you at the [Event] yesterday — your point about supply chain resilience really stayed with me. I'd love to stay in touch."

Over time, maintaining a professional network means staying in contact even when you do not need anything. Sharing a relevant article, congratulating a connection on a promotion, or commenting thoughtfully on their posts keeps the relationship warm without requiring a major investment of time. When you do eventually need to ask for help — a referral, advice, or an introduction — a well-maintained relationship makes that request far more natural and likely to succeed. The most effective networkers think of their professional relationships not as a resource to be used, but as a community to be nurtured.