Let’s Link Up: 5 Friendly Phrases for Business Networking

🤝 5 Natural Phrases for Business Networking

Meeting new people can be stressful, especially in English. These expressions will help you sound friendly, professional, and confident when you meet someone at a conference, event, or even just in the office. Learn when to use each phrase and how to make it feel natural.

• “It’s great to finally meet you.”
  When to use: When you meet someone in person after emailing or chatting online.
  Why it works: It shows enthusiasm and a positive attitude. You’re expressing that you’ve been looking forward to the meeting.
  Example: “Hi, I’m Sara from the Berlin office. It’s great to finally meet you!”


• “What line of work are you in?”
  When to use: Early in a networking conversation, especially at events.
  Why it works: It’s more open-ended than “What do you do?”, which can feel too direct. This sounds friendlier and invites conversation.
  Example: “Nice to meet you! So, what line of work are you in?”


• “I’d love to stay in touch.”
  When to use: Near the end of a conversation, especially if the person could be a valuable contact.
  Why it works: It politely expresses interest in future communication without pressure.
  Example: “It was really nice chatting — I’d love to stay in touch.”


• “Would you like to connect on LinkedIn?”
  When to use: When wrapping up a positive conversation with someone you’d like to follow up with.
  Why it works: It’s professional and common in business settings. Many people use LinkedIn for this purpose.
  Example: “I’ve really enjoyed this conversation. Would you like to connect on LinkedIn?”


• “How did you get into that field?”
  When to use: During a conversation to learn more about someone’s work.
  Why it works: Shows genuine interest, gives them a chance to talk about themselves, and keeps the conversation flowing.
  Example: “You’re in logistics? That’s interesting — how did you get into that field?”

📌 Vocabulary Quiz

💬 Class Discussion Questions

• Which of these expressions do you feel comfortable using already? Which ones are new?
• Have you ever networked in English before? What challenges did you face?
• Practice role-playing a short conversation using 3 of these expressions.
• In your culture, what’s a common way to begin a conversation at a business event?