Recruiters are moving away from the career fair into the more informal circles of social networking, calibrating recruitment efforts to create a more personal exchange with business school students.

“In addition to the cattle-call information sessions that have long been mainstays of the recruitment process, smaller, more informal networking events are proving increasingly popular. At top schools, first-year MBAs interested in banking or consulting can expect to attend upwards of 20 dinners, cocktail parties, and coffee chats over the course of the fall semester.”

That is not necessarily a transition that will sit well with many students for whom the notion of networking at a cocktail party “can still strike fear into the hearts of even the savviest student.”

In the interest of assuaging such fears, Business Week produces “The “Do Nots” of Networking”. Below is the abbreviated version and this link will take you to their article in full where the following suggestions are fleshed out.

1. Don’t go to every networking event advertised
2. Don’t go straight for the big-cheese
3. Don’t chow down
4. Don’t just stand there
5. Don’t be a brown-noser
6. Don’t ask yes-or-no questions:
7. Don’t ask only work-related questions
8. Don’t confuse informal with casual
9. Forget the hard sell, but don’t forget your story
10. Don’t overstay your welcome

The guidelines for peer to peer networking are, for the most part, generic and the above will strike many as simply common sense. Be it as a student or a seasoned pro, the point in all networking is to present your personal brand in a memorable and authentic manner.