At an event, you should try not to monopolise or be monopolised by one person all evening. You can politely excuse yourself after a few minutes and move on to meet another person.

Even more important than the quantity is the quality of your interaction.

• Watch what you say. You should never make a sales pitch during a networking function. Doing so will make you seem pushy or, at best, gauche and inexperienced.

• Try to be an interested and interesting listener. If at the end of your encounter you believe there could be something to pursue, you can then communicate this by arranging to meet at a later date.

Alternatively, you can make a call the next day during office hours and open your conversation with reference to a specific point from your previous encounter.

Source: Edited from the english@work e-newsletter by 938LIVE. Subscribe to the english@work newsletter.