25 Networking Conversation Starters That Never Fail

25 Networking Conversation Starters That Never Fail Many people find professional networking to be one of those things that’s easier said than done. Sure, we all know that a business connection can lead to future gains, whether it be a sale or a job opening that suits you perfectly; however, not everyone nails the initial conversation to seal the deal. Below, you’ll find 25 ways to kick-start your next professional chat in order to ensure that you network successfully. Now, get to talking! 1) Breaking into the circle: First, you want to narrow down the field and find someone that you want to speak to. “Hello, i’m (name).”  It’s so simple, and that’s why it works saying hello to someone is a surefire way to break the ice. Just make sure that your introduction is given with just enough confidence to ensure that both of you feel comfortable in the conversation. “Mind if I join?”  Networking events often have plenty of chairs and tables where participants can chat or munch on snacks. Try and find the person you want to talk to, and then join his or her table. “Well, you guys are certainly having more fun than the last group I was talking to.”  (Source)  Not all networking opportunities have to be boring. If you see a group of your peers having fun, there’s no harm in trying to work your way in on the joke. Besides, sharing a laugh with someone will help you feel closer. “Have you tried  the (food/drink name)?”  It’s no surprise that people love to bond over good food and drinks. Just make sure that you don’t overindulge in the drink department, as just two alcoholic beverages can result in slurred speech, and  that’s not going to help you network! “How do you all know each other?”  You might break into a circle, only to realize that you’re the odd man out of a group of colleagues or acquaintances. Luckily, this plays to your advantage if you ask everyone how they met each other. Once you ask the question, more people will chime in and become part of the larger conversation. Voila! You have networked effectively. 2) Going one-on-one: You’ve found a person who seems to have similar interests. Now what? “What do you do?”  Unless you’re approaching a well-known face in your field, it’s OK to ask someone what he or she does. In fact, it’s a great way to strike up a conversation that’s work-centric, which is, after all, the point of networking. “I like your…”  Perhaps the female engineer next to you is wearing an eye-catching geometric necklace, or the male designer has an immaculately laid-out resume. No matter what, a sincere compliment goes a long way in fostering a more meaningful conversation. “These appetizers are so great I think I’m going to grab another. Care to join me?”  This is a great way to get your intended networking partner away from the group for a more personalized networking session. Clearly, food is a great conversation starter, but it can also be used to strike up a one-on-one conversation. “What did you think about the speaker/conference?”  Industry functions with slideshows and speakers might not necessarily be set up for networking, but a question like this can make it happen. Ask those around you what they thought about the speakers, who was their favorite, what was the most interesting part, etc. The conversation should flow from there. “What projects do you have lined up?”  Again, it’s OK to talk shop when it comes to networking. In discussing upcoming projects, you can get to brainstorming and transfer ideas. Your new acquaintance will be sure to remember you if your idea helps an upcoming project go off without a hitch. 3) Getting deeper: You’re in! Now, find out more  â€œI saw (insert fact here) on your LinkedIn.”  Social-media research on an industry colleague is a great way to spark a conversation at a networking event. Perhaps you’ve seen that someone has received an award, promotion or grant. You can use this to kick off your conversation in a way that makes your conversation partner feel important. “What do you like about your job?”  This is a great question, for two reasons. One, the subject will feel important and be open to sharing his or her personal stories and beliefs. Two, you’ll get great insider information on the field in which you work or intend to work. “How did you get into this?” As previously mentioned, everyone has a story. Career-origin stories are great because they get just personal enough.  â€œWhat do you hope to get out of today?” You know what you want, but does everyone around you want to network, too? It’s great to know what others are looking to gain from a particular event, as it can help you hone in on and achieve reasonable, attainable goals. “Are you from here?” Use your acquaintance’s accent, attire, etc., in order to figure out where he or she might be from. Hometown stories and factoids are engaging, interesting and endearing. “I love your work.” You might be speaking to someone well known in your field. Acknowledge that you’re a fan of his or her work, citing a specific example of a speech, publication or design that has had an impact on you. “Where do you want to be in 10 years?” Unless you sense that you’ve met someone who wants to completely shift careers ASAP, then this type of hypothetical is a safe bet. It’s just personal enough without going overboard, and you can build a connection if you share some of the same hopes and dreams. 4) Out of left field: These might not be the most “of course” conversation starters on our list, but they’re interesting â€"  and they work. “Knock, knock …” Someone in your field might really appreciate that new industry-specific joke that you just wrote. Try it out â€" it just might get a laugh big enough to build a conversation. “What are you doing this weekend?” Again, no flirtatious connotations if you’re asking at a work function. You just might find that you share an interest or weekend plan with this person, which will give you something to bond over â€" and a time and place to see one another again. “Who do you have for the big game?” Most people love to watch at least one sport. Try your luck if you think you have a sports fan in front of you, and reap the rewards if you find someone who shares your passion for football, basketball, tennis, curling … whatever. “Don’t I know you from …?” This one works whether someone actually looks familiar or not. This type of conversation starter has pick-up line roots, but fear not: In a professional setting, it won’t be as see-through as it would be at a bar or dance club. Regardless of whether the person really does look familiar or not, you’ll probably start talking after you’ve learned his or her identity. “It’s so loud over there.” People tend to drift to the same side of a room when they’re casually conversing. Start a new trend â€" and conversation â€" by bringing some people to a quieter corner and chatting there. “I want to talk to someone besides My colleagues!” Everyone feels that post-work burnout, and colleagues sometimes remind us of that burnout just by being present. Use this universal feeling to your advantage by joining a conversation with completely new people, and explain to them why you’re doing it. They might get a chuckle! “Are you having trouble with the wi-fi?” At larger events, the wireless Internet routers might have trouble keeping up with demand. Use the chaos to your advantage â€" ask others if they’re having trouble, too. It’s your job to keep the connection strong after that. “I really hate networking.” Misery loves company. The guy in the corner sipping a beer and looking totally uncomfortable loves company, too. Why not bond over your mutual distaste for networking? You at least have one thing in common. And, to finish …  Remember that it’s easier than it seems. Just take a deep breath and walk up to the person you want to talk to. You’ll find that people are friendly, intelligent, open and conversational themselves â€" you have nothing to lose except a potentially helpful acquaintance. We wouldn’t suggest letting that one go.   Author: Sarah Landrum is a freelance writer and career blogger sharing advice on finding happiness and success in the work world. You can find her dishing out advice with a side of wit on Twitter @sarahlandrum and her career advice blog, Punched Clocks.

Strengthening your graduate employability

Strengthening your graduate employability We recently ran a piece on how to crack Strengths-based interviews  as an increasing number of high-profile employers are adopting a Strengths-based approach to graduate recruitment. But understanding more about the Strengths psychology can help you even before you submit that application.  Laura Firmin, a Warwick Sociology graduate, explains in this post how she has personally benefitted from completing a Realise 2 Strengths profile and discussing her profile with a qualified practitioner. That was then I first took the Realise2 Strengths profile as a student. Admittedly motivated by the opportunity to take the test for free, I completed the questionnaire and attended the workshop run by Student Careers and Skills. Having never seen or heard of Realise2, I was presented with words and colours that meant little to me at first. My interaction with the tool took me as far as noticing that some of my identified strengths were not described in ways I had expected. After the session I was offered a one to one explanation of my profile, which would have enabled me to look at it in greater depth but regrettably I didn’t follow up on this at the time. What a difference a year makes I took Realise2 a second time a couple of years later and this time I did attend a debriefing session with the Careers Consultant, a trained Strengths practitioner, where I had the chance to discuss in detail what my profile meant, how I could make the most of my strengths  and also  harness  those strengths to minimise the impact of any weaknesses. It was also illuminating to find out more about learned behaviours and how easily these can be confused with strengths. I discovered that I am not competitive with others. However, when combined with my strengths of paying attention to detail, writing and taking pride in my work, the Strengths Practitioner helped me to understand that I am, in fact, competitive with myself.  Its just not labelled in the same way. For example, I write and re-write essays, reports, and emails until I am completely happy with the outcome. In effect, I have ‘beaten myself.’ By combining these strengths I no longer see being competitive as something negative. I have turned it into a positive aspect that helps me write to a standard I am satisfied with. I doubt that I would have come to such conclusions about the way strengths interplay without the personalised consultation. Although I dont present as competitive in the traditional sense, the Strengths tool has allowed me to explore and understand this concept better, and how it applies to myself and others. How can you use it? A question that students often have about Realise2   is, “how can I relate this to solving the uncertainty of ‘what’s next?’”, and” how can I get ahead as a graduate?” Using Realise2 can help you describe your strengths and unique personal qualities in interviews as well as to demonstrating motivation in assessment centres. Your strengths may also provide indicators of the types of career you might like to pursue â€"   and the debrief will enable you to make sense of these options. It gives you a new language and frame of reference, that can really help you stand out and because it feels (and is!) authentic, the process is a more natural one. Youre not trying to fit a pre-conceived idea of the ideal candidate or employee. Id like to return to the example of my weakness in being competitive and how that could have adversely affected my performance at an assessment day. I think there is a widely held belief that candidates need to be ruthlessly competitive with each other to succeed in assessment centres. Not true. Recruiters are looking to assess against a range of competencies; I dont need to feel daunted at the prospect of competing  with other high calibre candidates. And whats even better? Well, I can now draw on my strengths of pride and courage to excel in any task, thus proving my worth to a potential employer. I no longer feel shackled by the fear of competition. If you can use the language of strengths to confidently articulate the positive way in which your skills and energies are constantly evolving, then Im sure like me youll feel the graduate job market opening up, with numerous possibilities. The world will soon become your oyster. Looking ahead I should tell you all that I am writing this not only as a Warwick graduate, but also as an intern for the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP)   â€" the company that designed and administers the Realise2 tool.  I applied for the position with CAPP through the   Warwick’s Graduate Internship Programme, because I felt (or should that be feel?) a natural affinity with  what they are doing with Strengths. With all bias aside Im really glad Ive had the opportunity at Warwick and CAPP to explore and understand the Strengths approach. It may just make all the difference to my future employability. Warwick students who are interested in completing a Realise 2 Strengths profile can do so by attending one of our central workshops which take place each term check myAdvantage for details. One to one debriefing sessions are offered to all students completing a profile by our team of qualified Realise 2 Strengths practitioners.  

Low-Balling and How to Avoid It

Low-Balling and How to Avoid It In 1978, Messieurs Cialdini, Capcioppo, Bassett and Miller performed a classic experiment. Their aim was to investigate the technique of low-balling the practice of making an initial offer  attractive enough to gain agreement and then changing the terms of the agreement  (usually a higher price) in the expectation that the buy-in will be strong enough to keep  the other party in the deal. In the experiment students were asked to take part in an experiment, to which a high  number agreed, and only afterwards were they informed that it would start at 7:00 am  (more painful for most students than any electric shock techniques!). Although they were  allowed to drop out, none did and 95% turned up at the agreed time (which must have  been a new experience for them!). When the control group were asked to attend a similar experiment but informed  immediately that it would mean an early start only 24% agreed to be involved (even  that figure surprises me must have had a high number of those pesky dutiful mature  students on the course). Now, I always thought low-balling was one of those sales techniques that had died out in  the 1980s like Adam Ants hair, Scarecrow Mrs King and acid-wash jeans but it seems  I was wrong. Just this month we lost a tender to a more competitive price offering the same level of  service only to be told at a later date (mid-way through the search project and too late to  turn back) that in fact with the add-on costs such as travel expenses (they werent local  to our client), hire of remote office space to conduct local interviews, assessment tools  and other sundry that the total price was in fact above what we had proposed as an  overall price. I have faith that such behaviour wont lead to repeat business or long-term relationships  and subsequently we will be able to work with this client again when the next opportunity  arrives. But it does gall me that this stuff goes on and quite frankly when I read another  discussion from recruiters bemoaning how our reputation is often besmirched then Ill  point out that sometimes, as an industry, we only have ourselves to blame. Have you noticed more low-balling going on? If so, what was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.

Work-Life Balance Tips to Help You Manage Your Work and Studies Successfully

Work-Life Balance Tips to Help You Manage Your Work and Studies Successfully “The perfect woman, you see, is a working woman; not an idle, not a fine lady, but one who uses her hands and her head and her heart for the good.” Thomas Hardy Are you considering starting post-graduate studies such as an MBA (Masters of Business Administration), or are you perhaps studying while holding down a full-time job? One of the questions that prospective students and career women currently studying ask on a regular basis is: will I be able to manage my job and my studies? The simple answer is Yes. Furthermore, thousands of students have proven, and continue to show that working and studying is possible, even manageable. Ergo, here are several tips to help you manage your work and study activities without too much effort:  Proper planning Time management is one the key aspects of working and studying at the same time. Therefore, it’s important to plan your studies right down to the smallest detail. Add your exam dates, assignment due dates, and any other important dates to a calendar. The next step is to plan your monthly, weekly, and daily study activities so that you can meet these deadlines without too much effort. If you understand what you need to do, then half the battle has already been won.  Ask for help before you need it Remember that studying alone is more challenging than studying together with other students. Even if you are studying through a distance-learning institution, it is wise to join one or more study groups. The current mobile technology makes it very easy for students to chat over the available messaging services. Furthermore, contract an urgent essay writing service to help you finalise your essays before the submission date. The academic writers who work for an essay writing service are well versed in the structure of and standards required for a university essay.  Take regular breaks It is impossible to work and study for long hours every day without taking a break. It is easy to become exhausted and demotivated while you are studying and working. The fact of the matter is that there is a limit to how long you can concentrate for and how much your brain can absorb at any one time. Even if you only take a 30-minute break during the day to relax and disconnect from your daily routine, you will find that you will be full of energy and ready to start working or studying again.  Prioritise your time Making a list of your daily tasks to determine what is essential and what is not, is an important life skill. You wont fit in your studies, work, and leisure time if you do not adjust to a new work, study routine.  Final words There is no doubt that working and studying simultaneously will take up a lot of your energy and time. However, the end result is worth the hard work. To help you balance your work with your studies, it’s important to manage your time efficiently, take regular breaks, ask for help when you need it, as well as

Todays Executive Job Search Toolkit - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Todays Executive Job Search Toolkit If you haven’t been in a job search for more than  2 or  3 years, you may think that all you need to do to land a job these days is dust off your executive resume, insert any updates, post it to as many job boards as possible, then sit back and wait for the interview offers to come flooding in. You may figure that connecting with a few executive recruiters is the only other thing you’ll need to do to make that job come to you. The thing is, jobs aren’t as likely to just come to you as they did in the past. You may not be in demand with recruiters the way you were in the past. These days, such passive tactics can sabotage your job search and keep you from ever getting into a good-fit job, or prolong landing that job. You need to develop a proactive plan to uncover opportunities yourself. Using job boards is part of the new world of executive job search, but only a very small part, and not one for you to invest much time in. Only an estimated 3-5% of jobs are filled through job boards. Most jobs are not posted anywhere. They exist in that nebulous hidden job market,  that is: Jobs created to accommodate specific candidates, once they connected with and had dialog with companies’ hiring decision makers. Existing positions in which an incumbent is replaced when someone better comes along. An open slot, waiting to be filled, that isn’t advertised outside the company. Only internal people know about it. Jobs that, for whatever reason, are not advertised or visible, and can only be uncovered and accessed through networking. Landing an executive job takes work. There’s a lot to pull together before you’re ready to cast a far-reaching networking strategy. Here’s what you need to have and do, along with links to relevant blog posts I’ve written on each topic: 1. A specific career target and list of 15-20 (or more) target companies that are a mutual good fit, as far as size, location, industry, culture, and environment. Without a clear target (type of job and industry), your resume and other career marketing materials will be too generic, and won’t help qualify you in the minds of those assessing you or attract them to you. And, if you can’t succinctly describe what kind of job you want, you won’t be able to explain to your network how they can help you. Don’t worry that these companies may not be advertising jobs anywhere. You’re going to network your way into their hidden jobs, remember? The Biggest Executive Resume Writing Mistake How To Tap Into Hidden C-level Executive Jobs 2. Research each target company and the industry This takes time, but your research will help you determine why your target companies need your help, provide you with those all-important relevant keyword phrases to use in your career marketing materials, and help you with due diligence in assessing companies. Research Your Target Employers 3. Target contact list for networking Determine which people at your target companies are key decision makers or close to their inner circle. Also look for employees, vendors, customers and others associated with your target companies. Find them on , Twitter,

A United Front Is Strong

A United Front Is Strong Why do half of marriages fail today? Lack of Trust and Breakdown in Communication are the top reasons. Does having a spouse out of work put strain on a marriage?They are experiencinga wild ride on the emotional roller coaster, they could be lacking their professional identity,and/or they could be feeling a lack of self confidence. These emotions impact the family and relationships. The other major cause of stress to the relationship is money. This can force all types of changes to lifestyle. Money management is critical. Make sure that you and your family openly discuss and strategize ways to decrease spending. This one thing can go a long way in bridging communication and trust. 10 Tips for Saving a Marriage After Job Loss looks at several real life scenarios and how they started to repair their relationships. Cheryl Stein, a career transition coach from Montreal, says in the article that she seen relationships fall apart over a spouses job loss: It tends to flare up any problems that are just under the surface. There is always a silver lining, enjoy this time with your spouse and family.

Job Searching at 50+ A Guide for Older Employees

Job Searching at 50+ A Guide for Older Employees Some older people believe they should easily be able to get a new job because of their extensive experience. While that seems reasonable, there’s a lot more to take into consideration. A lot of companies today are looking for younger people out of college with a few years of experience and new ideas. The general perception is older people won’t come in with those new ideas and may be difficult to train. Here is a quick guide for older employees embarking on a new job search. What to Put In a Cover Letter The  best resume writing services will suggest not bragging about your experience. Instead of indicating how many years of experience you have, simply state your “significant” experience. Also, avoid re-stating your job history in your cover letter. Even though your approximate age will be evident in an interview, you don’t want to show your age on paper. You should consider emphasizing your willingness to learn and adapt to new ideas and combine that with your proven experience and results. Brushing Up Your Resume There is some gray area when it comes to what information to put on your resume when you have 25+ years of experience. It’s easy to list out all the jobs you have and their corresponding dates, but it’s also easy for a recruiter to add up your age. While age shouldn’t play a big factor in the job search process, the unfortunate reality of “agism” is there. Many executive resume services will tell you to focus on results in your resume. Besides, if you have so much experience to talk about, potential employers want to know what you accomplished with that experience. You can also summarize your early experience into a paragraph that lets the reader know what you did without the redundancy of jobs going back 30+ years. Be Honest, But Not Too Extensive You shouldn’t lie about your age, but you also shouldn’t give it to a potential employer willingly unless they ask for it. If you aren’t sure how to portray your age on paper, the best resume writing services can help you out. Lying on your resume or cover letter is the worst thing you can do. Sometimes you just have to be creative in order to get your foot in the door for an interview. At that point, it’s up to you to nail the interview! Your Online Presence Older employees may or may not be on professional networking sites like LinkedIn. Having a complete LinkedIn profile is great for adding accomplishments you don’t want to put on your resume. However, you have to also be careful with your  LinkedIn profile development and avoid putting too much information out there. The use of keywords is critical when creating a LinkedIn profile. Sometimes people will overlook your age if they see you have the exact amount of experience they are looking for.