This post is a friendly reminder that networking meetings are still interviews. Yes, they can be very casual coffees, lunches, and Google Meets, but, in my opinion, they are still in the interview category. You might also call them informational interviews.

Networking meetings, whether in person or virtual, are great ways to gather momentum in a job search, practice interview skills, learn more about new industries, or gain connections in your target companies.

I genuinely enjoy networking and meeting new people. I genuinely want to help people find their next awesome job. That’s why I have this blog.

But wow! Sometimes, I think people forget this is still a professional situation and not a casual hangout. I may not have an open position, but I am still evaluating you as someone in my network, trying to understand your skills and what kind of job you are looking for. And deciding whether or not to introduce you to someone else in my network.

I will be very friendly and supportive, and I want to make you comfortable. But this is still business. Everything you do is still a representation of your personal brand.

So, I wanted to share a few suggestions on what not to do in networking meetings. I have another post with tips on what should do in an informational interview.

Networking Mistakes and What Not to Do During Informational Interviews

1. Don’t Forget to Confirm the Day Before

Even if you have an official meeting on your Google calendar, it’s always a good idea to confirm the day before. You should take the lead to confirm the location and time. And ask for their cell number and share yours in case something comes up last-minute.

I know I have flaked out before and missed meetings or gone to the wrong Panera. And not everyone syncs their personal calendar with their work calendar. Plus, this shows off your organizational skills.

2. Don’t Show Up Late

This should go without saying. Be punctual and respectful of their time. If the meeting is in person, I like to be 5-10 minutes early so I can grab my own coffee and you can avoid any awkwardness about offering to pay for each other.

3. Don’t Whine or Complain

Yes, the job searching market is tough. Being laid off is horrible and scary. I get it! I have been there three times in my career.

But people are taking time out of their day to help you, not be your therapist. If you are struggling with this, check out my post with tips to stay positive during your job search.

If you need to vent, talk to one of your close friends or family members. Or a real therapist! You may still need to process the anger and frustration, just not during a networking meeting.

4. Don’t Gossip or Bash Previous Employers

Sometimes I think I make people feel too comfortable, and they start dishing on the dysfunctions of their last team or share details about their toxic boss. This situation requires some nuance. And it goes along with #3 above about not complaining!

Even if you had a tough experience, keep it respectful and neutral in your networking conversations. Focus on what you learned or want to do next.

If you are currently employed and looking for a new position, be prepared for the question “Why are you looking to leave your employer?” You can use these networking chats to practice your answer!

5. Don’t Eat Unless It’s a Shared Meal

Eating can be distracting and unprofessional unless the meeting is explicitly over lunch/dinner. If we meet for coffee, wait until after our 30-minute chat to eat your scone. And if you are busy eating while I talk and give advice, you can’t take notes. Which brings us to the next tip!

6. Don’t Forget to Take Notes

People are taking time out of their day to help you and to share advice. Show you value their time and insights by jotting down their new ideas, action items, questions, and follow-ups. If you are on a video chat, just let the person know you are taking notes when you look away from the camera.

You can use these notes in your follow-up thank you email, as I will mention in #9 below!

7. Don’t Come Unprepared

Research the person, their company, and industry beforehand. Have thoughtful questions ready. Look at their connections on LinkedIn and make a list of people they could potentially introduce you to. Do you have a list of companies you want to target? Bring that list so they can figure out if they know anyone who works there that would be good for you to meet.

8. Don’t Forget to Practice Your Answer to “Tell me about yourself?”

Networking meetings are the perfect place to practice your interview skills. This starts at the beginning of the conversation when you introduce yourself. If you are trying a new approach with your spiel, ask them for feedback.

I have an entire post to help you with preparing your answer to "Tell me about yourself."

9. Don’t Forget to Send a Thank-You Email

I may be old school on this one, but I think it is super important. Don’t forget to send an email to express your gratitude. Text messages aren’t enough.

Demonstrate your project management skills. This is like sending meeting notes after a project meeting.

• Use this as an opportunity to remind people about the items they offered to do for you.

• Remind them of the names they said they would introduce you to, and give them a starter sentence about you so they just have to copy and paste.

• Make it easy for them to help you with a thoughtful and detailed follow-up.

Example: "Hi [Name], I appreciate you taking the time to meet today! I really enjoyed our conversation and especially loved your advice on [specific topic].

If you’re able to introduce me to [name(s)], I would really appreciate it. I’ve included a short intro paragraph you can copy/paste to make it easy. Thanks again!"

If I don’t receive a thank-you email as a follow-up to a networking call or meeting, I don’t take any further action to help.

Why These Tips Matter

You are on a path to a new job. These little networking chats are important steps. You are meeting new professionals who may end up being a link to the person who will hire you! No one is going to refer you if they are not impressed with you, your background, and your communication skills.

Yes, these meetings are more casual. The person you are meeting doesn’t have an open position they need to fill. But they are still evaluating you. Maybe not as stringently as they would if they were considering hiring you. But if they decide to introduce you to someone else in their network, they need to be confident in their pseudo-endorsement of you.

Additional Resources

• 18 Ways To Stay Positive During a Job Search

• 9 Tips to Get the Most Out of an Informational Interview

• How to Uncover the Hidden Job Market Through Networking: 14 Tips