Being Young Makes Networking Events Easy
For as long as I can remember, I’ve hung out with people older than me. High School. College. Even now you’ll often find me grabbing coffee with people 10+ years older.
I’m not sure why I do it… I think it’s because there’s a lot to learn from hanging around older people. Or maybe because older people can open up more doors. Either way, one thing is certain: being the youngest person in the room has some major advantages…
1) Sympathy - If you’re drastically younger than everyone else, people will be more willing to help you. I think it’s because people naturally like to share their “words of wisdom.” All you have to do is listen.
2) Curiousity - If the average age is 35 and you are 22, people will wonder: “Who’s that young person and why are they here?” Plus, you’re an easy, non-threatening target to strike up a conversation with.
3) It’s o.k to be dumb - Since you’re young, you can get away with a few dumb questions. It’s generally acceptable to attribute ignorance to youth.
4) It’s easy to seem smart - Asking an intelligent question means that you have a solid understanding of the concept being discussed. If you can refrain from asking dumb questions, you can look really smart by asking a few simple, but intelligent questions. If you’re young, people won’t expect you to ask them a question that really makes them think.
These are a few things I’ve noticed from going to dozens of networking events and being one of the youngest people there. Are there any other tips you can add to the list?
Sidenote - While these tips work great at networking events… they don’t fly at your job. At all.
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Interesting perspective. I tend to be on the older side of most of the networking events I have attended lately, mainly YPC events. Maybe I need to shift my focus more towards your mentality. If you come to our Annual Party this Thursday Andy, I will be sure to pass down some of my “older people” wisdom.
I like this post because I am always the young one everywhere I go. But I find it doesn’t make things easier — once people find out my age they have a harder time taking me seriously. One reason I try to avoid telling people my age…
I definitely agree. Youth are often grossly underestimated so being the youngest in the room gives you an opportunity to both impress and learn.
An extra thing I noticed? Its easy to weave in unique and memorable bits to the conversations around you because when you’re a decade younger than the rest of the room, you’re in touch with certain things that other people may not be - and observations that may seem obvious to people in your age group can come across as especially perceptive.
Great post…I tend to be on the dumb side of social networking, and I have found that most are eager to help you acclimate to this new world.
@Desmoinesisnotboring - I think I’m going to swing by for a bit tonight. We’ll have to chat.
@nisha - I suppose it depends on the topic of conversation
@dionne - great point! People love to reminisce about college in ‘the old days.’ It’s fun to talk about how the internet has entirely changed the experience of growing up
@Steve - That’s the great thing about social media… it’s social. I think that makes people extra willing to lend a hand, if needed.
I’ll talk w/ you tonight about re-building your blog.
HAHA Drish I totally agree with the sympathy point and especially the “It’s easy to seem smart” point. I feel like I take so much advantage of number four that I won’t say anything but ask one good question in a situation like that and try to seem real smart. It usually works, too, as long as my question is fairly rhetorical.
I can tell that this is not the first time you mention this topic. Why have you decided to touch it again?