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For as long as I can remember, I’ve hung out with people older than me. High School. College. Even now you’ll often find me grabbing coffee with people 10+ years older.
I’m not sure why I do it… I think it’s because there’s a lot to learn from hanging around older people. Or maybe because older people can open up more doors. Either way, one thing is certain: being the youngest person in the room has some major advantages…
1) Sympathy - If you’re drastically younger than everyone else, people will be more willing to help you. I think it’s because people naturally like to share their “words of wisdom.” All you have to do is listen.
2) Curiousity - If the average age is 35 and you are 22, people will wonder: “Who’s that young person and why are they here?” Plus, you’re an easy, non-threatening target to strike up a conversation with.
3) It’s o.k to be dumb - Since you’re young, you can get away with a few dumb questions. It’s generally acceptable to attribute ignorance to youth.
4) It’s easy to seem smart - Asking an intelligent question means that you have a solid understanding of the concept being discussed. If you can refrain from asking dumb questions, you can look really smart by asking a few simple, but intelligent questions. If you’re young, people won’t expect you to ask them a question that really makes them think.
These are a few things I’ve noticed from going to dozens of networking events and being one of the youngest people there. Are there any other tips you can add to the list?
Sidenote - While these tips work great at networking events… they don’t fly at your job. At all.
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