Networking events structure interaction around the pitch and work talk

Evidence

In person, the most widely practiced self-branding skill was networking. Networking was ever-present during my time in San Francisco; each week brought a flurry of tech industry events with the primary goal of meeting other industry workers. At these events, “everyone talks about work, not personal stuff,” I was told at a Lunch 2.0 event. Networking requires comfort with small talk, the ability to chat with anyone, and the talent to connect people with others whom they might want to meet. The typical networking interaction takes place between two people. The opening gambit is often “Who are you with?” meaning “What company do you work for?” This triggers the “pitch,” a summary of one’s business in thirty seconds or so, which ends with an action item like “we’re looking for funding,” or PR, or engineers. — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update, 484

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the pitch as the core unit of tech networking: a 30-second summary ending in an action item.
• XREF: connects to: Communication models themselves shape concrete human interaction. — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 215; productivity of a discussion depends on matching goals to the audience — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice: How to Communicate…, 273; Frontline workers control clients by structuring interactions before behavior emerges — Michael Lipsky, Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of…, 465

Broader Connections

• Communication models themselves shape concrete human interaction. #expands (0.78) — James W. Carey, Communication as Culture- Essays on…, 215
• productivity of a discussion depends on matching goals to the audience #qualifies (0.75) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 273