Seven Tips For Navigating Networking Receptions

Seven Tips For Navigating Networking Receptions

Law is a relational industry. Your relationships can help you get connected to jobs, clients, and opportunities. In your career, you will inevitably find yourself at networking receptions. These can range from cocktail hours hosted by a law firm to baseball games with the local bar association. In this post, we will go over seven tips for navigating these types of events so you can come out with a stronger professional network.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to read our general tips on networking.

Seven Tips For Navigating Networking Receptions

1. Set a goal for how many people to meet

Networking receptions can feel overwhelming, especially for introverts. Just imagine, a noisy room full of people you don’t know! You could end up not talking to anyone and leave feeling defeated. The best way to combat that feeling is to go in with a goal for how many people you want to meet. Even if you are introverted, you can muster up the energy to have a conversation with 1-2 people. For your first networking receptions, you can start at 1-2 people, and work your way up as you attend more receptions. But you should still limit your goal to just a handful; it’s better to have quality conversations with a few people than to have brief interactions with a dozen!

2. Come with conversation starters

Networking receptions can feel awkward, so come prepared to break the ice. Are you attending a reception hosted by a firm? Use the time to learn more about the firm, such as their practice areas or how they train their associates. Going to a happy hour with a local bar association? Ask people what they like about the bar association or how they are involved. These are natural ways to spark conversation since it gets people talking about what has brought them to the event in the first place.

3. Follow up with good questions to build rapport

After the conversation starter, have some questions ready to keep the conversation going. Ask open-ended questions that elicit more than a yes or no answer. Instead of asking “Do you like working for this firm?”, try asking “What are some things you enjoy about working at this firm?”

But you don’t want the conversation to feel like an interview. Be sure to add some details about yourself, and answer any questions that the other person asks.

4. Practice your handshake, smile, and body language

You want your handshake to be firm yet approachable. A limp handshake comes across as weak, while a crushing handshake makes you seem overly aggressive. Your handshake should communicate that you are confident yet friendly.

You also want to make sure that you smile naturally and maintain open and approachable body language.

5. Make a clean exit from the conversation

At one point in the evening, you may find yourself in a conversation that feels awkward, or you see someone you know walk into the room. Be sure to have a clean way to leave your current conversation smoothly. You can say something like “It was nice meeting you! I need to go get some water, but do you have a card?” Don’t feel obligated to follow up with every person who gives you their card, but do follow up if you felt you made a connection.

6. Don’t just talk to your friends

If you go to a networking reception with your friends, you can feel tempted to just hang out with them. Resist that temptation! You are there to meet new people and expand your professional network. Instead, help each other connect with new people. If you’re in a good conversation and see your friend walking around by themselves, invite them to join in. You will help your friend while adding new energy to the conversation.

7. Don’t eat or drink too much

Most of these networking receptions will have food and alcohol. Enjoy yourself, but don’t go overboard. Remember, you are in a professional setting.  The people you meet might have a huge impact on your career!  The legal industry is small, and a bad reputation might impact your goals in the long run.

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