We’ve probably all been to at least one networking event, those initially promising but inevitably awkward meet-ups where most people arrive hoping to meet new contacts that can further their career — but end up stirring their drink in the corner of the room chatting with someone they already knew.
Go Ahead, Skip that Networking Event
We’ve probably all been to at least one networking event, those initially promising but inevitably awkward meet-ups where most people arrive hoping to meet new contacts that can further their career—but end up stirring their drink in the corner of the room chatting with someone they already knew. The truth is, almost all of us feel this way. When researchers at Columbia invited students to participate in a networking event — students who had been claiming they wanted to meet new people! — they saw the same thing: even though 95% of the participants said they wanted to meet new people, most people simply talked to the folks they already knew. Even the ones who met new people gravitated towards people similar to them. So stop going to these time-wasting events, and invest in new hobbies and activities instead. It will be less awkward, more fun, and more useful in the long run.