The networking tips for the holidays continue here.
Go to the party.
Everyone is busy and tired during the holidays. It is easy to turn down invitations to social events, especially after a long week of work. If you are in a transition point of your career, this is an important time to network, and you should not miss the opportunity. Holiday parties are a great way to meet people when their spirits are up (figuratively and literally) and their generosity to help others is at a high point of the year.
Try and get a sense of who might be attending, and don’t be shy about asking people what they do for a living. I remember when I was trying to change careers, and nearly every party that I attended had at least one person who worked at a pharmaceutical company or had a good friend that did. This helped me during my network process. Unless you ask, you will never find out.
Don’t hound people.
Once you have initiated the conversation about what someone does for a living, gauge their interest in continuing down that conversation path. Some people prefer not to talk about their jobs while trying to enjoy themselves at parties. Others would be happy to speak for hours about what they do for a living. If you are interested in the field they are in, let them know. Exchange contact information (business cards) and then ask if you could have a follow-up discussion with them after the holidays when their social and work calendars lighten. By that point, you will have accomplished most of what you can in that setting. This does not mean that you should step away from a wide-open networking opportunity that presents itself, so gauge the situation properly.
