external networking

I'm half writing this blog post as a review and I'm half writing this blog post to teach myself a lesson - again. I just thought you all should know.

Tonight I went to my first external networking event in Philadelphia, well, my first external networking event anywhere that just happened to be in Philadelphia. It was approximately 100 times easier than I thought it was going to be. I was nervous. I didn't know anybody. I still don't really know anything about my job or what I'm going to be doing - but I just kept telling myself this was a good chance to practice my "elevator pitch". By the time I was talking to the third person, I had finally figured out the best order for the words to come out of my mouth. (It's the little things in life...)

So here was the scene - swanky location in Philadelphia, big open bar - everyone was given two free drink tickets and pretty much no other instruction or direction. I was surprised how many people there came alone (just like me!) and I was surprised for how many people that was their first event (also, just like me!). The point of everybody being there is to meet people - so everybody's really friendly and willing to talk - or just wanting to give you a business card, in which case, you really don't need to make conversation very long at all. It definitely seems rude to go up and intrude on a conversation, but it wasn't as awkward standing alone in the corner with a drink as you think it would be. Because within 2 to 3 minutes, somebody else would be passing by that didn't have anybody to talk to either. So then comes the conversation - what's your name, what do you do, where do you work.... and I kept trying to pull in other conversations such as are you from Philly, what else do you do besides work, talking about the Philadelphia restaurant scene and planning parties - you know, things I feel like I actually know about. And I told people I had just started my job - and instead of that being weird, it was a great segway into, well, what did you do before that, where did you graduate from, etc, etc. (Aside: Blogger is telling me that "segway" is not a word - so please excuse my possible misconception of a word? Just like I learned the phrase "for all intents and purposes" - sorry, sidetracked)

Anyway, I'd say every conversation lasted on average seven minutes (except for the guy that I stood waiting to get my free drink with - that was closer to a fifteen minute conversation) - which is just enough to get to know something about each other and get past the basics.

I talked to two gentlemen and three ladies and then I decided to leave. Why did I decide to leave? I ran out of business cards - I had only had three. (I'd forgotten to pack any of the 150 sitting at my desk. Again.) So after the second time of saying - "oh, I'm sorry, I don't have a card, let me write down my information for you" (luckily one of the ladies didn't have business cards either so that made the exchange less awkward) - I decided it was time to pack up. Five business cards - that sounds like a success for my first external networking event. I'm excited for the next one :) AND it's definitely not as scary as it sounds. The hardest part is walking in the door.

four cards + the free drink ticket I didn't use + one lady's information in my phone

SO - IN CONCLUSION.

Dear Chrystina -

Please, PLEASE remember your business cards at the next networking event. PLEASE. It will make things a lot less awkward. Third time's a charm, right?

with love, Chrystina