The After-Work Drink

It's happened to every attractive twenty-something woman working in Corporate America; we find ourselves on the receiving end of that dreaded question...

"So what are you doing after work?"

Ordinarily this question is received with a forced smile and a carefully worded excuse. Our sixth sense gives us the intuition to know when a co-worker has shady and unwanted intentions.

But there are other times when it may be more in our interest to play ball and do some after-work socializing as a means of self-promotion within the company. If your supervisor and/or your CEO are going to be there, the after-work drink becomes a prime opportunity to kiss up to move up.

Becoming the Perfect After-Work Socialite

Be Social! Keep in mind that the reason people are interested in seeing you after work is for you to socialize with them. They want to share laughs with you and see you as a person not just a working machine. So be very conscious of how many alcholic drinks you are tossing back in order to maintain absolute control over how you are presenting yourself to your co-workers and superiors. A fail-safe trick to prevent looking like a party-pooper who is to scared to have a few drinks is to order either a light mixed drink like a pineapple juice with Malibu Rum or a wine cooler and baby-sit it. In other words, drink slowly and do not draw attention to the fact that you have not been back up to the bar for refills. If need be, walk away from the crowd for a minute or two so that others may assume you went for a fresh drink.

Another trick for those of you who are not above blatant lying for the greater good (like me!), is the stunt drink. Order a non-alcholic drink (it can even be a water on the rocks) and tell anyone who asks that it is something else. The garnishes bars put on the glasses can make anything look like a strong drink! A watered-down cranberry juice is a great stunt drink. It looks like a vodka and cranberry and genuinely doesn't taste that great which will help give you those authentic "ick" faces while sipping it. LOL!

Once the drinking is mastered, it's time to chat it up. It is important to talk to everyone who made it out after work to show that you are a team player. Even that guy with the magnified glasses from the mail room deserves at least a quick comment about the weather. The biggest after work no-no is discussing office drama, ie: gossiping. This is never a good idea even if it makes you feel closer on a personal level with some of your co-workers by ganging up on another co-worker or group of associates from the office. You must be absolutely neutral. You have no opinion, and at most only express that you feel that both sides make valid arguments. If co-workers are insisting on pulling you into their drama, you have to take the initiative and physically remove yourself from the situation.

It is hard enough to make sure that your work life is steady and progressive without the added saga of inter-office theatrics. So talk about sports, music, fashion, drinks, movies, anything but work. Keep all of your topics positive; try to keep the conversation around subjects that do not stir up any animosity within you or within your co-workers and superiors. If you sense you have hit a sensitive topic, end the conversation. You do not even have to end it tactfully; you can just begin another conversation. Depending on your persona, an awkward transition may even lighten the mood! Just be confident with a positive and chatty attitude and things should go smoothly.

Putting in Quality Face Time

Once your co-workers have been dazzled, slip into your best smile and work on that supervisor of yours. Keep the conversation positive and casual and if they want to discuss the office, make sure that you mention the amount of progress you have been making as a result of working with a great "team." This allows you to acknowledge your accomplishments without being completely blunt about it. The ultimate goal here is to make sure that your supervisor associates your name and face to positive company output.

So go ahead and kiss up, but be sure to do it tactfully.

How do YOU handle the after-work scene?
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