In the wake of discussions here and here about networking, especially about how introverts or those who generally have a difficult time with networking events might make the most of them, I found it interesting that the Notre Dame Club of Washington Career Night that I attended last night (both to shill Working World and to make connections with fellow Domers) employed an ice breaker activity to ease participants in to the night and hopefully get them talking more easily. It was a Career Night Scavenger Hunt:
How to Play:
1. Talk to other people in the room and ask which of the statements in the boxes below apply to them.
2. If a statement applies, have the person write his/her name in the box.
3. Each person can sign only one box on your sheet.
4. Talk to as many people as possible and fill up your sheet.
Statements in the boxes included: “Has been to Africa;” “Is a native of Washington, DC (or has lived here for ten or more years);” “Watched every football game this season;” etc. I give the organizers props for their creativity, but I don’t know how effective the ice breaker was—for me, anyway. While some others seemed to be enjoying it, I once again found myself talking to the one guy in the room that I already knew.
But an activity later on proved much more effective for mingling and natural conversation, I thought. The room had 15+ tables set up in it, each of which was designated for a particular career field: international relations, government, consulting, engineering, etc. Table speakers (of which I was one) went to the table of their particular expertise or field, and others interested in that particular field then approached that table and conversations ensued. It was far easier in this situation to strike up conversations with folks, mainly because I already knew everyone mingling around the IR table had something in common with me and similar interests. The ice breaker was well-intentioned, but ultimately felt forced and stilted. The facilitated pockets of conversation based on field of interest, while also forced to some degree, ultimately felt much more natural, as our interactions were based mainly on mutually held passions.
