The 5 Types of People You Meet Networking

You know them, you’ve seen them, you may even have one of their business cards. These are the 5 types of people you meet networking:

5. The Best Friend

Their motives are pure and social, they came to make friends. Try to ask them about their professional work and you’ll be met with observations on the food spread and attendee’s fashion. Their insistence on only discussing favorite HBO dramas and the best place to get wings on a Tuesday, means you’ll likely walk away with a drinking buddy and a half-hearted LinkedIn connection. It could be worse!

4. The Ash Ketchum

They subscribe to the Pokemon logic, “gotta catch ‘em all,” with a goal to collect every single business card at the event. The “Ash Ketchum,” is either incredible at organizing or is building the largest business card graveyard the world has ever seen. The thought will haunt you long after you’ve misplaced his business card.

3. The Social Climber

If you’re lucky enough to grab a minute of their time, don’t expect their full attention. This type of networker always has one foot out the door, planning who they can schmooze with next. Don’t be offended by this behavior. Just consider it part of the job and something every networker will encounter.

2. The Spread Keeper

This type of networker clings to the event’s food spread because 1. It’s free food 2. The food and drink table is safe; the rest of the room is a shark tank. No one can blame the spread keeper for sticking to what’s comfortable but eventually, even they must venture out into the open waters of networking.

1. The Closer

They’ve mastered the hardest part of networking, the out. They can seamlessly bow out of a conversation without any rookie stutters, stumbles or abrupt transitions. If you recognize this quality in someone, pull them aside and ask how they do it. In the networking world, this is considered a super power, and some believe you’re either born with it or you’re not.

Do you identify with any of these networking types? Have you met anyone described? Let us know in the comments below!

IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by Sean MacEntee