Hi, I'm going to an alumni event this evening for a company I used to work for around 5 years ago. The company has high staff turnover so I don't know who will be there and who won't. I found the job stressful (long hours and travel) but the pay was quite good. I'd like to keep doors open if possible. Any ideas how I should handle this event, what I should aim to get out of it, etc?

c'mon, i've got a few hours max to get any advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pls hurry!!!!

Treat it like a first date - keep it light, friendly and amiable, ask about the company, show an interest and if you get the opportunity talk about your own career a little and draw out some interesting points/wins since you worked there. No reason to get stressed - you don't work there anymore so no need to care at the end of the day although you obviously do (and want to go back?) - otherwise why bother attending at all??

thank you MarsMy priorities are:a) to 'keep the door open' should I ever get desperate and need to go back there again (they pay well but the lifestyle sucks)b) to hopefully get some referrals from them (though I doubt this is doing to happen)c) to hopefully get to know some potential clients from within their alumniI'm very nervous about this event... I want to make a good impression and link up with a few people who still work there, but since leaving them my career has gone downhill somewhat and in a silly kind of way I feel a bit 'inferior' because they're all earning so much more than I do now

1. Well if you go in with an attitude of desperation people will not see you as a peer and not network with you. If your career has nosedived since you left you have to ask yourself whether you are treating them like the proverbial ark as a way of fending off taking charge of your career. This event will not make or break your career so relax and see it simply as one avenue among many you should be exploring - this will take the pressure off. 2. More money dosen't make anyone superior in any sense. It's an effect of the market, nothing more. A small flat in London is worth as much as a 4 bed house and garden in the north - is the small flat where you cannot swing a cat better because brick for brick it is more expensive?3. Take control of your career and get back on track. Stop looking backwards - that's when accidents happen (to your career and everything else).4. Go in a smile to people, be approachable, find someone you can get talking to and network from there - talk to people they talk to and develop conversations from one to another like leapfrog. You'll be round the room in no time.5. Leave when they have a good impression of you - never be first to arrive or last to leave.6. Remember - people are more responsive if you have something you can do for THEM before asking what they can do for YOU.Happy networking!

Don't goGo fishing, mountain biking, spending time with freinds and family etc etc - don't feel obliged to do the networking thing - if you're good enough at your job it'll work out.

Thank you again Mars, I'm finding this v. helpfulRe: Jetlag's points - well believe me I would FAR rather go fishing or something else instead but right now my career is at rock bottom £££-wise and I'm starting to get nervous about my job, so sadly have to put the feelers out even though hand on heart I don't think I'd be happy going back to the old firm.The event itself went fairly well yesterday. Got to know some interesting new people, and caught up with 1 old 'friend'. I use inverted commas because my social skills have developed since I left the firm and I could pick up on body language which indicated a bit of 2-facedness and insincerity on his part (this was there even several years ago, but I lacked the ability then to detect/interpret it). There were a few other people I knew but didn't get around to talking to... some of them because they were busy with other people and so was I (+ in around 50% of these cases we noticed each other from across the room), others because I forgot who they were, and some of them because although I knew them I just really don't like them (they're a bit 'full of themselves') so was pursuing other avenues instead.I'm now wondering how I should follow up on the event. Any ideas?