Throughout the past several months, I’ve spoken to hundreds, if not thousands, of people about how they can best “recession proof” their careers. It turns out that of all the activities in which a young professional may engage, building a professional network is among the most important.  Members of a professional network can mentor young professionals through the challenges of an economic downturn. When job losses are experienced, members of a professional network may help direct young professionals to new work opportunities.

 

Despite the importance of building a network, lots of young professionals shy away from attending networking events. The prospect of entering a room filled with strangers causes some to shake in their shoes (or summer sandals), and others hate the idea of talking about themselves.

 

The following ten “rules of engagement” can help anyone successfully work a room:

 

 

Whenever you introduce yourself, state your name and provide a descriptor. The latter is two or three sentences that tell the other person something about who you are and what you do. View your descriptor as a 30-second commercial. Your goal is to introduce yourself in a way that helps you become memorable.

 

 

When two people are standing in front of you, and you wish to introduce one person to the other, begin by silently asking yourself, “Who is the most important person in this business setting?” State the most important person’s name first and then present the less important person to the most important person. For example, if you are a summer associate at a law firm, when you wish to introduce a peer to one of the firm’s partners, you would begin by stating, “Ms. Partner, I’d like you to meet Matthew.  He’s another summer associate, and we both work on the law review at school.”

 

Once you send an R.S.V.P. indicating that you will attend (and please make sure you do R.S.V.P. to all invitations), only an extreme emergency justifies a no-show. Arrive within 15 minutes of the designated start time for the event. Immediately find the event’s host or hostess and thank them for the invitation. Then, visit the bar, request a beverage, and carry the beverage in your left hand. (Toting a beverage will give you something to do with your hands, making you appear much more comfortable.) Throughout the event, carry either a beverage OR food. Do not make the mistake of carrying both. Keep one hand free to shake the hands of other guests.

 

 

Whenever possible, attend networking events with someone else who you know. When you arrive, you and your “buddy” should do a “divide and conquer”—your “buddy” should work half of the room while you work the other half. Midway through the event, you and your “buddy” should reconnect and compare notes. For example, your “buddy” might tell you, “I just met three people, and you should really connect with one.”  You can do the same thing for your “buddy.” By using the “buddy system,” you can double your contacts in half the time.

 

 

Whenever you attend an event alone, and if you don’t immediately recognize any of the other guests, look for an “approachable,” the person who is usually standing by themselves along the perimeter of the room. Alternatively, look for the person who appears to be having a miserable time. That individual will likely welcome the opportunity to have you approach him or her and begin a conversation.

 

 

Always wear your name tag on the right side of your jacket, blouse, shirt, or sweater. By doing so, whenever you extend your right hand to shake another’s hand, you will place your name tag directly in the other person’s line of vision.

 

 

Listening is the real key to becoming effective at remembering names. So, whenever you are meeting someone for the first time, try to shut out all the chatter that is going on in your head and give the other person 100% of your attention. Carefully listen to their name and descriptor. Quickly repeating the other person’s name in normal conversation may also increase the likelihood of you remembering that name.

 

 

Should you wish to enter a conversation that is taking place among a group of people, simply approach the group, take a few moments and listen. Make eye contact with the various participants. After another member of the group asks a question, feel free to take half a step forward, introduce yourself, and ask a follow-up question, for example, “That’s interesting, my name is Mary Crane, may I ask . . . .”

 

 

One of the purposes of every networking event is to provide participants with the opportunity to meet and mingle. If you are in a one-on-one conversation, after 10 or 15 minutes, feel free to tell the other person how much you enjoyed meeting them and request their business card. The simple exchange of business cards will help you bring the conversation to a close. If you are in a group conversation, look at the people on either side of you and do the same. (You do not need to tell the entire group that you are moving on.) If you do not have business cards to exchange, go to your local print shop and create some old-fashioned calling cards. These should list your name and key contact information, including an e-mail address and a phone number where you may be reached. If you are still in school, also include the name of your school and your anticipated graduation date.

 

 

Sending a thank you note may be among the easiest ways to become memorable in a favorable light.  Soon after a networking event, or any other social event to which you have been invited, send a short note on quality stationery that includes three simple sentences:

 

 

Sentence 1: Describe the event. (Thank you for inviting me to the reception.)

 

Sentence 2: Describe something about the event that made it memorable to you. (I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the conversations I had with so many of the firm’s senior lawyers.)

 

Sentence 3: Describe your follow-up. (I look forward to attending all of the other events the firm’s Recruiting Department has planned for us.)