You already attend to certain tasks before a holiday party: You RSVP, you decide on a great outfit, and you find a fabulous hostess gift. But this year, may we suggest adding a little conversation prep to your pre-party checklist?
你已经为你的假期聚会做了一些准备：你发送了请务必回复的邀约，你确定了一套漂亮的服装，你也找到了一个超棒的主人回礼。但是今年，我们能否提议，在你的聚会准备清单上，再加一些小小的关键词呢？
If the word “networking” makes you want to curl up in ball with a bad holiday sweater, here’s the good news: We’re not suggesting small talk for the sake of being polite. Rather, we’re talking about taking advantage of the time you’re spending outside the office with friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Read on for our guide to the most common holiday get-togethers and how to make the most of them for your career.
如果“建网”让你想要把脱线的假期毛衣团成一团，哈，其实不是的啦：我们是不再建议为了礼貌起见的简短对话了。恰恰相反，我们谈的是要利用好你在办公室外和朋友、家人、同事、客户相处的时间。以下就是我们关于如何在最常见的假期聚会上最有效地拓展你的事业的指导。
The Event: The Staff Holiday Lunch
你的人际网拓展计划：坐在你想进一步合作的人旁边
Your Networking Game Plan: Sit Next to Someone You’d Like to Work With More Closely
在公司组织的白天假期聚会上，你的第一反应可能是坐在你最合得来的同事旁边。不妨这样：如果你能随时和他们有一起玩乐的机会，把你的精力留在那时候吧。抓住这个机会，坐在你想进一步合作的人旁边——或许是你在新项目上想要合作的人，又或者是总是看上去很忙而不参加集体讨论的人。
At the company’s daytime holiday party, your first instinct may be to sit next to the colleagues you click with naturally. But here’s the deal: If you can grab happy hour with them anytime, save your bonding for then. Take this opportunity to sit next to someone you’d like to work more closely with—maybe someone you’re hoping to collaborate with on an upcoming project or that colleague who always seems just a bit too busy to brainstorm.
同时建议——或许听上去有点违反常理——跳过工作相关的对话，用这段时间问下他们在哪里度假，或者是一年中的这个时节最喜欢吃的菜。你的目标是和他建立一些私交，促使他将来多抽出一些时间聆听你的工作建议。一旦你们聊了一会儿，你就可以提及你想在你的日程上安排一个会议。
And—while it may sound counterintuitive—skip the work chat, and use this time to ask them where they’re spending the holidays or what their favorite dish is this time of year. Your goal is to build a connection with someone on a personal level that will motivate him or her to make more time to hear your work ideas later. Once you’ve chatted for a while, you can mention you’d love to get a meeting on the calendar.
你的人际网拓展计划：找准定位
Whether your co-attendees are clients, donors, or staff from other organizations, your goal atthese large events is to be a shining ambassador for your company. Likely to bump into a board member who always asks how things are on the other coast? Imagine how competent you’ll look (and how confident you’ll feel) beginning with a story about a recent event out there. Eye a client you’ve been dying to connect with? Feel free to begin with holiday topics, but be armed with some numbers on your latest projects. Remember, the large office party is an opportunity for you to put a face to your email signature, and knowing your stuff will make you memorable (in the best way).
无论和你共同出席的人是客户、捐赠人，或者是其他机构的同事，你在这类大型活动上的目标是成为你们公司闪亮的代表大使。有可能碰到总爱问“大洋彼岸如何如何”的股东？从那边最近发生的一个事件开始讲起吧。想象一下那会使你看上去多有能耐（以及你会感到多么自信）。瞄上了你做梦都想联系上的客户？轻松自如地以假期为题开始对话吧，但目标还是在你最近项目上的一些数据。记住，大型公务聚会是让你的脸和你的email签名联系起来的机会，熟悉同事会让你更加令人难忘（以最好的方式）。
Your Networking Game Plan: Explain What You Do (And What You’d Like To Do)
你的人际网拓展计划：解释你在做什么（以及你想做什么）
Why should you talk to your aunt (a first-grade teacher) or your cousin’s new boyfriend (who’s in finance) about your work optimizing websites? Because family counts as a part of your network. Your aunt’s dear friend or your cousin’s former colleague might be a great contact for you to have—but you’ll never know if you shy away from talking about your work. And if you’re on the job hunt and just hoping to dodge questions about your employment status, think again. Instead, choose to talk about your skills, and what you hope to be doing. Then follow up with a simple, “know anyone?” At the very least, you’ll be connecting with your family (on a subject other than your love life), and at best, you may get some new leads and emails.
为什么要跟你的阿姨（高级教师）或者你堂妹的新男朋友（金融业人士）谈你的网站优化工作？因为家庭也算作你的人际网的一部分。你阿姨的密友或者你堂妹的前同事或许是你很好的联络人——但是如果你总是不好意思谈及你的工作的话，你可能永远都不知道了。如果你正在找工作或者只是希望回避关于你的就业状况的问题，那就再好好想想。换个思路，选择谈论你的技能以及你希望做的事情，然后接上一句简单的“认识什么人吗？”至少，你和你的家庭联系的更紧密了（不包括你的爱情生活）；而最好的情况是，你可能获得一些新的指引和email。
Your Networking Game Plan: Introduce Yourself to the New Faces
你的人际网拓展计划：把自己介绍给新面孔
You’re always at work, and finally, it’s time to let your hair down after hours. Sure, you can spend your friend’s infamous party dancing away with your besties, but you can also use it to make new, local contacts. It’s easier than you think. Just make yourself say hello to at least one person you’ve never seen before, ask her how she knows the host, and then ask her what she does for a living. She’ll respect that you’re going out of your way to say hello to the new girl, and in such a non-office environment, will likely feel more comfortable answering questions like what the hours are really like in her field.
你总是在工作，终于，下班了，是时候让你彻底放松了。你当然可以在这个风流聚会把时间花在你最好的朋友跳舞上，但是你也可以把它用来建立新的本地关系户。它比你想的要容易。你只要让自己对至少一个你从来没见过的人说句hello就可以了。你可以问问她怎么认识主人的，然后问她怎么谋生。她会尊重你，因为你走出了你的圈子对一个新来的女孩打招呼。并且，在这样一个非工作场合，她更容易自在地吐露她在自己领域的实际工作状况。
Holiday gatherings are a great opportunity to build relationships and to make new connections (we’re looking at you, job seekers). By spending even a small part of each event reaching out and talking to someone new, you’ll be building your network and making contacts to extend into next year.
假期聚会是发展关系和建立新联络的好机会（说的就是你这个找工作的人）。哪怕只是在每个聚会花一点点时间主动出击和新人交谈，你就能建立自己的关系网并将这种联系延续到明年。
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