What to Say at a Conference or Networking Event

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When attending conferences, talks or other events, people often don’t know what to say. Here’s a list of questions you can try.

Event

• What did you find most interesting about the last talk / keynote?
• What's been the most interesting thing you’ve learned at this conference?
• What’s been the best part of the conference for you so far?
• What sessions do you have planned for the rest of the day / tomorrow?
• How does this conference compare to other ones you do?
• What would make this conference a success for you?
• Why do you come back to this conference?
• Pick something interesting you heard from a speaker and ask someone’s opinion about the statement.

Recommendation

• I see you’ve been here before, what do you recommend for people to get the most out of the conference?
• What advice would you give someone here for the first time?
• Is there any session you’d recommend as a do not miss?
• What other conferences do you go to?
• Have you found any restaurants around here that you’d recommend?

General

• What company are you with / How long have you been with <company>?
• One of the reasons I come to conferences is to learn from others in the industry, what are the trends you’re seeing in your field right now?

Remember, most people are in the same boat, and unlike junior high school, people aren’t going to laugh at you for trying. Take a chance, you never know where it could lead.

If you found this helpful, also check out Why You Need to Bring Croissants to Your Next Networking Event and my other articles on Networking.

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