Let’s be honest. Tech networking events can feel a little like speed dating for your career. You’re sipping warm wine out of a plastic cup, pretending not to sweat through your blazer, and trying to remember if the person you’re talking to said “AI product manager” or “I produce manga.” (Both are equally possible.)
But here’s the truth: you can make great impressions at these things without being a walking LinkedIn profile or overselling yourself like a late-night infomercial. The key? Don’t try so hard to be impressive. Just be interested, interesting, and vaguely competent. Here’s how.
1. Lead With Curiosity, Not Your Resume
Most people at these events don’t want to be pitched at like they’re stuck in a poorly-targeted Facebook ad. So instead of launching into your “Hi, I’m a growth hacker disrupting the dental SaaS space” spiel, ask something simple like:
- What brought you here tonight?
- What’s your favorite part of your job?
- Is this your first time at one of these things, or are you a seasoned small-talk warrior?
People open up when you show genuine interest. Bonus: when you ask good questions, you don’t have to talk as much. Which means fewer chances to accidentally brag about your crypto side hustle from 2021.
2. Tell Stories, Not Stats
Saying, “I manage an 8-person dev team and scaled our product 3x last quarter” sounds like you’re reading off a quarterly earnings report. Instead, try something like:
So our app kept crashing every time someone tried to upload a photo of their dog. Which would be fine, except it’s a dog photo sharing app. Anyway, that turned into a two-week debugging adventure and a surprisingly heartfelt team bonding experience.
Stories are sticky. They’re relatable. And they make you seem like a human, not a job title.
3. Speak Like a Real Person, Not a Tech Bro Translator
You know the type: “We’re leveraging gamified APIs to synergize user engagement in the blockchain ecosystem.” Cool. But… what?
Unless you’re sure the person you’re talking to speaks fluent jargon, keep it simple. Instead of saying you “optimize dynamic retargeting funnels across platforms,” say “I run ads that try to follow you around the internet until you buy something.” People laugh, they get it, and now you’re memorable.
4. Mention Wins, but Don’t Throw a Parade
Look, if you did something cool, you’re allowed to talk about it. Just don’t flex like you’re pitching yourself for a TED Talk. The trick is to tie the win into a story or something you learned.
Bad: I scaled our MRR to $500k in six months.
Better: We had no marketing budget, so I turned our intern into a TikTok star. Now she has a brand deal with an energy drink and our pipeline is full. I’m still confused, but it’s working.
It shows success and humility — with a side of humor.
5. Compliment Like You Mean It
You don’t need to butter people up, but if someone says something smart, funny, or just plain cool, tell them. Just keep it real.
Try:
- That was a great take on remote onboarding. I might shamelessly steal that idea.
- Wait, you designed that app? My cousin is obsessed with it. She texts me memes from it weekly.
People remember compliments that aren’t generic, especially when they’re tied to something specific.
6. Make Other People Look Good
This is the secret sauce. If you’re talking in a group and someone says something cool, say “Tell them about your project — it’s wild,” or “She’s being modest. She runs a whole dev team.”
You look generous. They feel appreciated. And you’re suddenly the connector people want to hang out with.
7. Know When to Leave a Conversation (Nicely)
You’ll inevitably find yourself in a conversation that drags — maybe someone’s pitching their crypto-nutrition NFT app, or maybe you’re just out of social fuel.
No need to fake a bathroom emergency. Just say:
It’s been awesome chatting. I’m going to make a few more rounds, but let’s definitely stay in touch.
Then swap cards or connect on LinkedIn. Clean, classy, no ghosting.
8. Don’t Get Weird About LinkedIn
Yes, you should follow up. But don’t send a five-paragraph essay or open with “Following up from our synergetic discussion at TechConX 2024.”
Try something like:
Hey! Great meeting you at the AI mixer. Loved your story about accidentally launching that feature early — I feel that. Let’s stay in touch.
Short. Friendly. Normal.
9. Be the Chillest Version of Yourself
It’s easy to feel like you have to prove something at these events. But honestly? People are drawn to others who are confident without being showy, smart without being smug, and chill without being bored.
Smile. Nod. Sip your drink like a person who doesn’t desperately need approval. You’ve got this.
Final Thoughts
Standing out at a networking event isn’t about being the most successful person in the room. It’s about being the one people enjoy talking to. Ask good questions. Share honest stories. Hype others up. And maybe don’t open with “I’m a visionary thought leader.”
Because the truth is, people don’t want perfect. They want real. So show up, be kind, crack a joke or two, and let your work speak for itself (eventually).
And please — if you do pitch your crypto-nutrition NFT app… at least make it funny.
