Really important is identifying a topic the other is passionate about, maybe it’s not even work related, but a hobby or a travel experience they’ve had. Then you get them to “teach” you about it by asking them to elaborate and maybe even explain specific parts of their hobby, and voila you’ve succeeded in networking.

This works until you try it in DC and suddenly everyone is an analyst at the State Department and when you ask what they analyze they say “data.”

They also don’t have hobbies they’re willing to talk about, and tend not to have strong feelings about music or TV or books or, really, anything.

I do not like networking in DC.