To make small talk at a networking event, walk in with three openers, a 15-second answer to “So what do you do?”, and a few follow-up questions ready. AI can help you prep all of it, plus polite exit lines and follow-up messages written from your notes afterward. The goal isn’t to impress everyone. It’s to have two or three real conversations.
Why bother with in-person networking?
Because the people you meet can open doors no application can.
Referrals punch way above their weight. In a study of one company’s hiring by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and MIT, referrals made up about 6% of applications but led to more than a quarter of hires. Many referrals start with a single good conversation.
Messages and emails matter too, and WayUp’s AI prompts to write networking emails cover those. This post is about the part that happens face to face.
How do you start a conversation? (Prompt 1)
The hardest part is the first ten seconds. Plan them.
I'm going to [type of event, like a campus alumni mixer, industry meetup, or career night] for people in [field]. Give me 6 natural opening lines I could use to start a conversation with someone I don't know. Make them casual, not salesy. Include a few that reference the event itself and a few that work if I walk up to a small group.Simple usually wins. “Hi, I’m Jordan. How do you know the host?” works almost everywhere.
How do you answer “So, what do you do?” (Prompt 2)
You’ll get asked this a dozen times. Have a short answer ready.
Help me answer "What do you do?" at a networking event in under 15 seconds. Here's my situation: [year, major, current job or internship, what I'm exploring]. It should sound like something I'd actually say out loud, include one specific detail, and end with something that invites a follow-up question. Give me 3 versions.“I’m a senior studying supply chain, and I spent the summer helping a warehouse cut its shipping errors. Now I’m looking at operations roles.” That gives people something to grab onto.
How do you keep the conversation going? (Prompt 3)
Good questions do the heavy lifting.
Give me 4 follow-up questions for each of these people I might meet at a [field] networking event: a recruiter, a recent alum 2 to 3 years into their career, a senior manager, and another student. The questions should be easy to answer, show genuine curiosity, and avoid sounding like a job interview.Listen more than you talk. When someone mentions something interesting, ask about that instead of moving to your next prepared question.
How do you leave a conversation without being awkward? (Prompt 4)
Everyone forgets this part, then gets stuck in one conversation all night.
Give me 5 polite ways to end a conversation at a networking event so I can meet other people. Include one that asks for their contact info, one that introduces them to someone else, and one for when the conversation has run its course.“It was great talking with you. Mind if I connect with you on LinkedIn? I want to go say hi to a few more people before this wraps up.” Warm, honest, done.
How do you follow up after the event? (Prompt 5)
Write notes on your phone right after each conversation: name, what you talked about, any follow-up you promised. Then use them.
Here are my notes from a networking event: [paste notes on each person]. For each person, write a short LinkedIn connection note (under 200 characters) that mentions something specific we talked about. For the 1 or 2 people I most want to stay in touch with, also write a short follow-up email suggesting a quick call in the next few weeks.Send them within 48 hours. Our guide to writing a LinkedIn connection request that gets a reply has more examples.
FAQ
What should I bring to a networking event? Your phone with your LinkedIn QR code ready, a way to take notes, and a few printed resumes if it’s a career-focused event.
How long should a networking conversation last? Usually 5 to 10 minutes. Long enough to connect, short enough to meet a few people.
What if I’m shy or introverted? Set a small goal, like two good conversations, and plan your openers ahead of time. Arriving early helps too, since smaller crowds are easier to approach.
Should I ask for a job at a networking event? Not directly. Focus on learning about people and their work. Job opportunities usually come later, from relationships you build.
