Professional networking tips for your next holiday party

The upcoming holiday season will be the best networking opportunity you get before the year is over. Every office around the globe gets filled with fun, laughter, and great holiday parties to celebrate the holiday spirit.

However, human resources software provider TriNet found through a survey that a majority of workers would gladly accept other benefits such as a cash bonus or extra time off from work instead of visiting their employer’s holiday party. If you are one of these individuals, you are missing out on some amazing networking opportunities.

Holiday parties have helped many employees in the past with their career advancement. They are a great chance for you to strike up a conversation with coworkers you haven’t had a chance to get to know well. You can even build personal connections with the management using the networking chances that come with a holiday party.

Let us walk you through the whole process.

Step number one, accept the invitation

The best things come for those who say yes! The next time you get invited to a holiday gathering, happy hour, or even one of those company dinners, just accept the invitation. Sometimes, you might be compelled to say no because you want to go home to a warm bath and a soothing glass of wine. But you could do that any day, while the holiday season only comes around once a year.

Prepare your game plan

Great! You’ve decided to give it a go. But you don’t know exactly what you want to do at the party. You want to use the chance to advance in your career. Start by creating a plan of action. Will you go along with a date? Whom are you planning to talk to at the party? Are you taking along your business cards?

Going solo will give you the best advantage

True, parties are more enjoyable when there’s someone to share the fun with. But if your major motive is to network, consider going by yourself to the office party. You will have more time to float around the room, talking to people and you won’t have to worry about your date’s needs when conversations take up most of the night.

Dress to stand out

We’re not saying you should turn up in a red cocktail dress for a black-tie event. But dressing well will ensure that you cast an impressive figure in the eyes of the people you network with.

Talk to the right people

You prepared a list of names that you wanted to talk to when you made your game plan. You should keep all those names in your mind during the event. Don’t take up too much time with one person and miss the chance to talk to the others altogether. Plan your time with each individual wisely and keep conversations relevant, professional, and pleasant.

Take a stack of business cards

Keep your business cards neatly stored in a pocket or purse where you can take them out easily. Always remember to ask for a card in return when you give out a business card. Remember to take enough business cards along with you to the event.

Don’t hit too hard on the alcohol

Remember why you are there for. You can always go out with friends to get wasted on free drinks. Keep the drinking to a minimum and enjoy the networking experience more. Besides, you don’t want to accidentally let something unprofessional slip when talking to someone important.

Finally, don’t forget to have fun

Even though your primary goal is to network, you are essentially at your office’s holiday party. Don’t make it all work and no play. Have some fun too. Connect with coworkers and have a good laugh about the things that went wrong the past year. Make plans for the next year and simply enjoy the party!