10 Networking Slip Ups That Are Best Avoided

10 Networking Slip Ups That Are Best Avoided Attending a networking event or industry night for the first time can be a daunting experience and you dont always know what to expect of it or how to conduct yourself. If you go about it in the right  way, these events can be valuable for making useful  new contacts; however go about it in the wrong way and youre at risk of making yourself look a bit silly. For some tips on how to network effectively, you can seek advice from our article on  how to power up your networking skills, however to be  sure you dont come across as awkward or make others cringe, I suggest you  avoid doing these things: 1) DONT  talk too much: Rabbiting on and on about yourself is likely to bore people and networking really should be a two way exchange. Show genuine interest in other people, take the time to ask them questions and listen attentively to what they have to say. (Source) 2) DONT  be a loner: Approaching new people can be nerve racking, but youre not going to gain anything from the event if you spend the time wandering around by yourself. Bite the bullet and spark up some conversations with other attendees. Itll get easier with practice, I promise! (Source) 3) DONt be a stalker: If youre new to networking, you  may be tempted to latch on to someone you know for moral support. But do try to reach out to other people too or youre at risk of following them around like a lost puppy, which may not be entirely appreciated. (Source) 4) DONT  interrupt: You may have something MEGA interesting to say, that you feel just cant wait to be shared, but think about how you feel when someone interrupts you. Annoying right? Listen patiently and intently to what the other person has to say and in turn they will hopefully do the same for you. (Source) 5) DONT discuss inappropriate topics: Its a professional event, so try to stay on track and maintain a professional tone in your conversations. People dont want to hear about the hot date youve got on Friday  or your pregnant dog, trust me! (Source) 6) DONT dress down: People will make a first impression built on your appearance, so make sure you dress smartly and give off a positive representation of yourself. You may well be  heading for a session in the gym afterwards, but this doesnt mean you should rock up at the event in your workout kit! At the same time, you dont want to look like youre about to hit the town either. (Source) 7) DONT get drunk: A bit of Dutch courage is fine, but dont go overboard. I think its fair to say any good new contacts youve made will soon be lost if you start dancing on the table or staggering around the room causing calamity. (Source) 8) DONT be a business card spammer: Dont just deal out your business cards willy nilly. No offence, but not everyone will want it and its likely to get thrown in the bin in that case. Get to know someone first and once a connection has been properly made you can take the next step of offering them your card. (Source) 9) DONT sell hard: Networking events are about forming relationships and getting to know people. As tempting as it may be to use  the opportunity to sell your products, it is not the time or place to do so and  follow up meetings can be arranged for this, once a connection has been made. (Source) 10) DONT be a brown noser: Sure, everyone enjoys receiving  a compliment or two, but there is a line to be crossed when it goes  from being friendly  to you coming across as  a suck up. You may think it will gain you a few brownie points, but in reality employers will see right through these throw away comments. (Source)