English for Networking Events: 5 Mistakes to Stop Making

Networking events are already a bit uncomfortable. You’re standing in a room full of strangers, holding a drink you don’t really want, trying to remember someone’s name thirty seconds after they told you. The last thing you need is your English letting you down at exactly the wrong moment.

The mistakes below aren’t rare or exotic. They come up constantly, from professionals at international conferences to students trying to expand their contacts. The good news: once you see the pattern, they’re easy to fix.

The Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

1. Introducing yourself with “I am”

Wrong: “Hello. I am David. I am a marketing manager.”

Correct: “Hi, I’m David. I work in marketing.” or “I’m a marketing manager at XYZ.”

Why: “I am” in full is grammatically fine, but in spoken English it sounds stiff and unnatural. Native speakers almost always use contractions in informal introductions. Also, naming your company gives the other person something to respond to, which keeps the conversation moving.

2. Saying “Nice to meet you” when you’ve already met

Wrong: “Nice to meet you again!”

Correct: “Good to see you again!” or “Great to catch up!”

Why: “Nice to meet you” is for first meetings only. Using it with someone you’ve met before suggests you’ve forgotten them entirely, which is not the impression you want to leave. “Good to see you” is the standard fix, and it’s warm without being over the top.

3. Asking “What is your job?”

Wrong: “What is your job?”

Correct: “What do you do?” or “What line of work are you in?”

Why: “What is your job?” is a literal translation from many other languages, and it sounds blunt in English, almost like an interview question. “What do you do?” is the natural, neutral way to ask about someone’s profession in a social-professional context. “What line of work are you in?” adds a bit more warmth and works well if you want to sound slightly more polished.

4. Ending a conversation with “Bye bye”

Wrong: “It was good talking to you. Bye bye!”

Correct: “It was great talking to you. I’ll let you mingle.” or “Let’s keep in touch. I’ll find you on LinkedIn.”

Why: “Bye bye” sounds childlike to most English speakers. More importantly, a strong exit line at a networking event does two things: it closes the conversation gracefully and it plants a seed for follow-up. “I’ll let you mingle” is particularly useful because it gives both of you permission to move on without awkwardness.

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5. Using “Can I ask you a question?” before every question

Wrong: “Can I ask you a question? What projects are you working on at the moment?”

Correct: “What projects are you working on at the moment?” or lead with a comment: “That’s an interesting field. Are you still focused on the Asian markets?”

Why: Asking permission before every question slows the conversation and creates an oddly formal tone. In natural conversation, you just ask. If the question is sensitive, you can soften it with a short lead-in, but “Can I ask you a question?” as a habit makes you sound hesitant rather than engaged.

The Underlying Pattern

Look at these mistakes together and you’ll notice something. Most of them come from one source: translating conversational habits directly from another language into English, without adjusting for register.

English in professional social settings sits in a specific middle zone. It’s not as formal as a business letter, and it’s not as casual as texting a friend. The register is warm, fairly direct, and built on short, natural phrases that keep conversation flowing. When learners use full, uncontracted forms, overly literal questions, or phrases borrowed from formal writing, the language lands slightly off, even if it’s technically correct.

The fix is not to memorise hundreds of new phrases. It’s to learn the register and then let that guide your choices. Ask yourself: would a native speaker say this at a drinks reception, or does it sound like a job application?

Quick-Reference Summary

• Use contractions in speech: “I’m”, not “I am”
• “Nice to meet you” is for first meetings only. Use “Good to see you” for second meetings onward
• “What do you do?” beats “What is your job?” every time
• Exit with purpose: suggest LinkedIn, a follow-up email, or just say “I’ll let you mingle”
• Drop the “Can I ask you a question?” habit. Just ask
• Match your register: warm and direct, not formal, not overly casual

Vocabulary to Know

• mingle /ˈmɪŋɡəl/ – Level: B1 – to move around a social event and talk to different people – Example: After the presentation, everyone mingled over coffee and snacks.
• networking /ˈnetwɜːkɪŋ/ – Level: B1 – the activity of meeting people professionally to share information and build useful contacts – Example: She found her current job through networking at an industry conference.
• line of work /laɪn əv wɜːk/ – Level: B2 – a person’s profession or area of business – Example: “What line of work are you in?” “I’m in logistics, mostly freight.”
• follow up /ˈfɒləʊ ʌp/ – Level: B2 – to contact someone after an initial meeting to continue a conversation or agreement – Example: He said he’d follow up with her after the event, but she never heard from him.
• register /ˈredʒɪstə/ – Level: C1 – the level of formality in language, adjusted depending on the context and audience – Example: Using formal register in a casual conversation can make you sound distant or awkward.
• elevator pitch /ˈelɪveɪtə pɪtʃ/ – Level: B2 – a short, clear description of who you are and what you do, designed to be delivered in under a minute – Example: He’d rehearsed his elevator pitch so many times it finally sounded natural.
• keep in touch /kiːp ɪn tʌtʃ/ – Level: B1 – to maintain contact with someone after meeting them – Example: “Let’s keep in touch — I’ll connect with you on LinkedIn.”
• small talk /smɔːl tɔːk/ – Level: B1 – light, informal conversation about unimportant topics, used to build rapport – Example: Small talk about the venue helped them ease into a more serious business discussion.
• rapport /ræˈpɔː/ – Level: C1 – a friendly, trusting relationship built through good communication – Example: She built rapport quickly by asking thoughtful questions and listening carefully.
• cold approach /kəʊld əˈprəʊtʃ/ – Level: C1 – the act of introducing yourself to someone you have no prior connection with, especially in a professional setting – Example: A cold approach at a conference feels less awkward if you comment on the session you just attended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it rude to hand someone a business card straight away?

In most Western professional contexts, yes, it can feel abrupt. The smoother move is to have a short conversation first, then offer your card near the end. In some East Asian business cultures the card exchange happens at the start and has its own etiquette, so it’s worth knowing your context.

What if I mishear someone’s name and don’t want to ask again?

Ask once more, immediately, and apologise briefly: “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” This is completely normal. What’s not normal is guessing wrong for the rest of the conversation. Getting the name right matters more than avoiding a moment of mild awkwardness.

How do I exit a conversation that just won’t end?

Use a purpose-driven exit. “I promised myself I’d speak to a few new people tonight, so I’ll let you go, but it’s been great talking to you.” This is polite, it’s honest, and it ends the conversation without making anyone feel dismissed. The phrase “I’ll let you go” works well because it frames the exit as a favour to them.

Put It Into Practice

The best way to get comfortable with this language is to use it before you need it. Practise your introduction out loud. Rehearse your exit lines. Get the phrases into your mouth so they come naturally in the moment, not as something you’re translating in your head while someone is waiting for you to speak.

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