Networking - Having Professional Conversations
How Will This Session Help Me Get Ready For Work?
Professional conversations are part of every job - whether that is with clients, colleagues or your boss. Often those professional conversations are a way to show your skills and commitment and may lead to further opportunities in your current workplace or in new ones.
Sometimes you may attend an event where you have the chance to meet other people working in your own field and these opportunities can be very fruitful in terms of your current job and possible new ones.
Questions to get started
Can you think of a time when you had to speak to someone you didn’t know? How did you start the conversation?
How could you show that you are interested in what someone is telling you?
Why might it be useful to meet someone who is doing your ideal job?
Focused Virtues
The Focused Virtue for this session is Courage.
We need courage to be able to speak to people we don’t know. Sometimes we want to ask for help or a professional connection and it can seem a bit ‘cheeky’. Courage helps us to take the risk that they don’t respond in the way that we want them to and see that as a learning opportunity rather than a failure if it doesn’t turn out in the way we hope.
Ask Yourself: "How can I show courage to reach out to new people in order to develop my professional networks?”
Skills Development:
Getting ready for your first job can feel daunting, especially when it comes to meeting new people. Walking up to a stranger at a work event or in a new office takes courage. However, stepping out of your comfort zone to introduce yourself is a powerful way to build a professional network and unlock hidden career opportunities.
To make a great first impression, start with a friendly smile and a clear introduction: "Hello, I'm [Name]." Keep your explanation of what you do simple, and show genuine interest by asking about them. It takes bravery to initiate a conversation, but opportunities come from actively taking the initiative to make things happen rather than waiting for them to come to you.
Once you are talking, the key is to stay flexible and adapt to how they respond. Watch their facial expressions and body language. If they look muddled, have the courage to pause, slow down, and explain your point in a simpler way. If they seem distracted or look away, adjust your pace or ask a friendly question to bring them back into the conversation.
Ultimately, being enterprising is about spotting opportunities where others only see obstacles. Every new connection is a chance to learn, find a mentor, or discover a job role you hadn't even considered. Grab your courage, take a deep breath, and start that conversation—you never know where it might lead.
Interview Practise: Case Studies and Questions
You are at a training session for your job. You recognise the head of a different department to yours and you are really interested in working there. There is a moment in the coffee break where you see she is by herself. What could you do or say?
Do I know some ways I could start a professional conversation with someone I want to network with?
Do I know ways of networking in person and online?
Guidance and Resources for Facilitators
1. Content & Background Knowledge
Demystifying "Networking": Many adult women find the word "networking" intimidating, associating it with formal corporate events or self-promotion. Reframe networking as simply building supportive professional relationships and community—skills many women already use daily in family and local contexts.
Overcoming Language Self-Consciousness: EAL learners often fear approaching unfamiliar native speakers because they worry about misunderstandings or not knowing cultural etiquette. Courage is required to step out of comfort zones, initiate greetings, and embrace mistakes as learning moments.
Adapting Communication Live: Teaching non-verbal awareness. If a conversation partner looks confused or disengaged, learners practice pausing, slowing down, or asking an open question to reset the connection.
2. Key Misconceptions to Address
"I have nothing interesting to say to senior managers or colleagues." Reframe: People love sharing their knowledge. Asking genuine, curious questions about their work is the best way to network.
"Networking only happens at big formal events." Reframe: A conversation during a tea break, at the staff locker room, or at a training session is networking.
3. Step-by-Step Workshop Activities
Activity 1: The 3-Step Professional Introduction (20 Mins)
Formula:
Greeting & Name: "Hello, I'm [Name]. I work in [Department/Role]."
Context/Interest: "I'm really interested in learning more about [Topic]."
Curiosity Question: "How long have you worked here?" or "What do you enjoy most about your role?"
Practice: Mingle activity. Learners walk around the room, introduce themselves to 3 different peers, and use their open question.
Activity 2: Non-Verbal Reading & Adapting (15 Mins)
Setup: In pairs, Partner A tells a 1-minute story about their week. Partner B acts out a non-verbal cue midway (e.g., Looking confused, Looking rushed/checking watch).
Task: Partner A must adapt live:
If confused: "Let me explain that a different way..."
If rushed: "I see you're busy, let's catch up another time!"
4. Reflection & Discussion Points
"What is a simple question you can ask someone at a work tea break to start a friendly conversation?"
"How can taking the courage to introduce yourself unlock new work opportunities?"