Haveo · What to say at a networking event when you don't know anyone
How to introduce yourself at a networking event
Name, what you do in plain words, and one thing you are into right now. "I'm Sam — I build booking systems for clinics, and lately I'm mostly untangling other people's old code." The third part is what gives them something to ask about.
The three parts
- Your name. First name is enough and it is the part people actually need.
- What you do, said like a person. Not the job title on your contract. What you would tell a friend you spent the week on.
- What you are into right now. A current project, a problem, something you are learning. This is the hook and most people leave it out.
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Why the title alone fails
"I'm a senior product manager" gives the other person nothing to do except say "oh, nice." Then you are both stuck.
The specific thing is what lets someone say "wait, how does that work?" — which is the conversation actually starting.
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If your situation is complicated
- Between jobs: "my role was cut in the restructure, so I'm looking — I do X." Plain, extremely common, and it tells people how to help.
- Studying: "I'm finishing a degree in X and trying to work out what to aim at." This gets more help than any confident version would.
- Freelancing or several things: pick the one relevant to this room. You are not misrepresenting yourself, you are answering the question asked.
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Rehearse it out loud, once
Not read, said. Twenty seconds. A sentence you have heard yourself say is a completely different object under pressure from one you have only thought.
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Then stop talking
Say your sentence and let the pause exist. Filling it with more about yourself is the most common way a good introduction turns into a monologue.
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Rehearse it before you walk in.
Haveo builds your intro, lets you practice out loud with an AI coach, and keeps your notes one tap away in the room. Free on iPhone and iPad.
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