Top Five Festive Networking Tips for EMBA Candidates

Keep your network working throughout the festive season with these top tips from the QS TopExecutive team.

Whether you’re an Executive MBA candidate, student or alum networking is an integral part of your business school experience. But as the end of the year approaches it’s easy for the social calendar to fill up and for communication with business associates to be put off until the New Year. 

1. ‘Tis the season of giving

Successful networking is all about what you can do for others. So there’s no better time to offer your services, expertise and business contacts than at Christmas. After all, it is the season for giving. If you have a few networking events you’re planning to attend before the year is up, then take a moment to prepare for them, identifying what you can take to each event and offer those you come in contact with. If you can offer a new contact something they’re looking for, they’ll be more inclined to return the favour and word will spread quickly that you’re the person to know.

2. Make a last ditch attempt at communication

It’s all too easy for the year can get away on us and come December we’re left scratching our heads asking: “where did the year go?” If communication with your contacts has fallen by the wayside during the past 11 months, don’t wait until the New Year to get in touch. Be sure to give them a ring before the year is over. Chances are your schedules won’t allow for a face-to-face meeting with such short notice, but a phone call is definitely better than an email. You can then both promise to make more of an effort to stay in touch next year!

3. Get into the Christmas spirit

If there’s a networking event with a festive theme or a final festive hurrah at the office, get into the Christmas spirit and make the most of this opportunity. Don’t be the Christmas grouch and refuse to wear a Santa hat – events that have a theme or require even just a small element of fancy dress are a great way to break the ice. It gives you something to talk about to take the edge of that sometimes uncomfortable introduction and before you know it, you’ll have attended one of the best – and fun – networking events of the year!

4. Don’t get caught with your mouth full

It’s easy to overindulge at any social occasion, but it’s especially easy to do so at Christmas. When tables are laden with mince pies, chocolates and other festive treats, not to mention a bar stocked with mulled wine and champagne, the potential to let your guard down can be high. But remember, first impressions do count and lasting impressions can make an impact as well. Any networking event in the lead up to Christmas is just as important and potentially beneficial as the networking event you attended earlier in the year. So relax and enjoy yourself, mix and mingle and make the connections but stay sober. A slight slip of the tongue is the last thing you need when you’re networking with the chief exec!

5. Prepare to follow up in the New Year

The end of the year is a busy season for everyone so if you meet someone it can be easy for best laid plans in the New Year to be forgotten. Don’t let them! Successful networking is all about staying in touch, so make one of the last things this year be to email that person you met and say you’re looking forward to touching base with them again in the New Year. Mark it in the calendar, in the diary, and if necessary on the phone, so there’s no chance of forgetting to follow up come January.

The New Year is also a time for resolutions, so why not make your 2012 resolution one related to networking. Can you attend 12 networking events in 2012? Or perhaps start networking outside of your industry. Are there some introductions you’ve been meaning to make but haven’t yet got around to doing? Include an element of networking into your daily or weekly routine and you’ll be reaping the rewards throughout the year.