One of the most fundamental, and often underutilized and under thought tools for networking is the "elevator speech". Also known as a thirty second commercial, or cocktail talk, it's a way of talking about what you do for a living.

In a culture where few people stay in the same position at the same company for decades, you need to be able to talk to all sorts of people about what you do. This doesn’t require you to be glib, or a toastmaster. It’s just a way to make it easier to introduce yourself and break the proverbial ice. By preparing this in advance, you’re less likely to be tongue-tied and more focused on what you want to talk about.

Ultimately, it's a promotional blurb you share when making conversation, whether you're actively looking for work or not. Keep it short and sweet and active, and allow it to intrigue the listener, instead of putting them to sleep. It's good practice for job fairs and networking.