You're probably familiar with the necessity of networking in advancing your career. But how well you network often depends on how well you schmooze.
你应该很清楚地知道关系网在推动你事业进步中的重要性。但是一般来说，你的关系网完美与否是由你的交际能力决定的。
Successful schmoozing isn't glad-handing or insincere sucking up -- although expressing sincere admiration can be an important schmooze tactic. Instead, it's the grease that starts the wheels of networking.
虽然真诚表达你的赞美是交际的重要手段，但是成功的交际并非指做作的热诚或虚假地拍马屁。让社交网络的车轮转起来的是那些能起到润滑作用的小细节。
Schmoozing is nothing more than making casual, easygoing conversation with strangers, Networking is the art of the follow-up. When you have the schmoozing down, your networking can be effective.
交际只不过是和陌生人进行随意、轻松的谈话。人际交往是后续维护的艺术。当你进入闲聊之后，你的交际就会很有效。
But starting a casual conversation with a stranger -- especially when that stranger has the power to boost your career -- can be nerve-wracking for even the most outgoing people.
但是即使是那些非常外向的人，对于要和一个陌生人开始一段随意的对话，尤其是和那些有权促进你事业的陌生人闲谈时，都会非常伤脑筋。
Experts have some recommendations for making business schmoozing natural, enjoyable, and effortless (or at least appear that way):
关于怎样让商业闲谈更自然、更有趣、更有效，专家建议如下：
1. Investigate.
调查。
Find out who in your profession or related profession could be good to know, and learn more about them. A good start is to find out if they have an online presence, such as social and professional networking sites.
调查在你的专业领域或相关领域里有谁比较值得结交，然后了解他们的情况。一个良好的着手点是调查他们是否在社交网站或专业网站上活动。
If you know they're going to be attending a professional event, find a way to attend. And if you learn that person shares an interest with you, say, a love of a sports team or hobby, that's great knowledge you can use to start a conversation.
如果你得知他们即将参加一次专业活动，那就找个方法也参加。如果你得知那个人和你有某项相同的兴趣（比如说对某个体育队伍的热爱或共同的业余爱好），那你就可以好好利用这些来打开话题了。
2. Go beyond the usual suspects.