Do you break into a cold sweat at the mere thought of attending a networking event?

Have you been left in the shadows, ghosted by those you hoped to connect with?

Are you haunted by the possibility of running into creepy characters like these lurking at your next networking gathering?

Here’s how to spot them and what to say with phrases that slay:

The Vampire: Charms all the contacts and advice right out of you – for free – providing no reciprocation.

Slayer: No pointy stick is needed. Instead, try this phrase: “Vlad, it’s a real pleasure meeting you. Let’s schedule a call to discuss what you’re looking for and how we can work together. What’s your email so I can send you my calendar link and you can book a call?”

The Zombie: This person doesn’t eat brains but wants to pick your brain. For free. “C’mon. Let’s go for coffee,” they say. And they keep returning for more free advice while you haven’t earned a dime.

Slayer: Neutralize the brain-picking requests with this killer phrasing, “Zelda, thanks so much for your request. I’d love to work with you. Let me send my scheduling link, and we can discuss your situation over the phone. That saves us both travel time and maximizes our time on the call.

At the end of our call, I’ll recommend the services that best address your situation and will help turn things around fast.”

Or “Thanks for asking, I’ve got a great blog post on that exact topic. What’s your email? I’ll send you the link.”

The Werewolf: His hair is perfect. You have a nice conversation. You exchange business cards.

The next day, you find you’re subscribed to his newsletter and have received several sales pitches from him via all your social media accounts.

Slayer: Your silver bullet: Unsubscribe. And block, if necessary. Sure, you can try to educate Warren on proper social media etiquette, but chances are this Werewolf has bitten before and likely won’t change.

The Mummy: This person is wrapped up in themselves and their department. They don’t want to share information for fear of being exposed and losing their job, client, or whatever else they deem most valuable. (Maybe it’s a red Swingline stapler.)

Slayer: You understand. You can build trust by reassuring Mummy that sharing a little piece of advice won’t jeopardize their career. Instead, it may be a career boost because they’ll have a new ally in another department. They can build on this connection, create cross-functional inroads, and get their job done faster. And you benefit because you’ve got fresh eyes on your work situation from an expert with a long history at the organization.

The Ghost: You were having a great conversation. You turn around and poof. They’ve vanished. No exit conversation. No, “Let’s get a call on the calendar.” And no contact info. They’ve simply vanished. “Who was that person? Why did they leave? What did I do?” you ask yourself.

Slayer: It might not be about you. It may be the Ghost’s modus operandi because they hate networking events. If, however, it is you, examine the conversation. Might you have accidentally shown a few symptoms from the Mummy, Werewolf, Zombie, or Vampire? If so, work on improving your networking prowess. Focus on building a business relationship and friendship before asking for a favor.

Before your next event, identify ways to help your network, such as making a personal introduction or sending a helpful link or resource.

Providing value first helps your network thrive, and you survive.

I know you’ll slay it at your next event.

Drop your networking horror—or slaying—story in the comments.

© 2017 | Wendy Terwelp | All rights reserved. | Updated 2024

Wendy Terwelp is an award-winning career expert and personal branding strategist who empowers leaders, directors, and high potentials to win promotions, salary increases, and new gigs. A sought-after speaker, Wendy works with organizations who want to smash silos, increase employee engagement, and eliminate people headaches. Book her for your next event: http://www.knocks.com/speaking/