Recently, I was at one of those networking events.

And there he was — the charming corporate type. A man in a perfect suit, with such a fixed smile it seemed built into his face. He approached me with the standard set: a firm handshake, a slightly-too-long look in the eyes, and the question:

“So, what do you do?”

I answer. I explain. And he… nods. Looks at me so intently, as if I’m revealing the secret to immortality.
Only after a couple of minutes do I notice his gaze is slightly unfocused, and his phone is already spinning in his hand.

Classic.

That’s when I realized: I had never felt so valuable as in that moment when someone asked me about my work without listening to the answer.

But did it give me anything? Absolutely! I understood that this is a game. Everyone here has their own goal. Some are looking for a business partner, others — for a new employer, and some just want to tick another box on their list of “useful connections.” The main thing is to be able to see it — and to understand that your smile is also a tool.

The secret of corporate networking is simple:

Understand that you are being manipulated.
People want something specific from you — even if it’s just the chance to take your spot in front of the coffee machine.

Don’t forget that you’re manipulating too.
If you smile, do it with a purpose — for example, to get a discount on a future project or at the very least to find out where to get free business cards.

Be a professional player.
Listen, ask questions, but remember: this game isn’t about sincerity — it’s about mutual benefit.