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Ask HN: How to actually network?

4 points by bluerail ↗ HN
I see people recommending networking is the best bet anyone could have. Say it a new job, a prospectus freelancing client or even a co-fouder.. but, I am confused how do one actually network

Say in a conference or a gathering, how do I start a conversation out of blue and keep the conversation going on without making it awkward?

and I bet this is one of the resolutions for most of the people..

3 comments

[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 17.4 ms ] thread
toddkazakov
I usually start with asking about the current position of the person and about the background. If it's not irrelevant to my personal or work interests I usually go saying few words about me. If we you have common topics to talk about then it's easy. In general straight to the point has been working for me. It goes without saying that you must practice. I had the chance to spend few months in the valley, which in my opinion is the best place to overcome your networking fears. It's just that everybody is welcoming and comes from diverse backgrounds, so it's almost impossible to go wrong or not to find common touch points. After short time you'll see the words flowing just naturally out of your mouth.
jmnicolas
Plug the Ethernet cable in the RJ45 connector and voilà you're actually networking \o/
[dead] powerbookbrian
Don't worry, you're perfectly normal as this is a common problem most people face. Small chat first, and it's good to always ask more questions about that person than it is talking about yourself. Try to turn the conversation to something the person is interested in, and then afterwards try to match it with your interests. You wouldn't have to worry about what you would be talking about if you both are enthusiastically talking about a hobby or interest.