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BUSINESS ENGLISH · BUSINESS ISSUES · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

NETWORKING:
BAGEL OR
CROISSANT?

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1 Warm up

Look at the photos and discuss the questions.

1. How are bagels and croissants related to networking?

2. What do you think a bagel person is like? And a croissant person?

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NETWORKING: BAGEL OR CROISSANT?

2 Vocabulary 1
Match the words below to their meanings.

1. bustling (adj.) a. make something bigger or better

2. boost (v) b. find a suitable person for a management job and convince them
to leave their current job
3. pastry (n) c. a connection between people or groups

4. bond (n) d. stop someone from entering a place

5. headhunt (v) e. not obvious or noticeable

6. strive (v) f. full of busy people

7. subtle (adj.) g. try hard to achieve something

8. shut out (phr. v) h. a type of food made of dough from flour, fat and water (e.g.
croissant)

3 Reading 1
Read a blog post about networking. Match the headings to the paragraphs.

1. Thinking ahead in terms of your networking

2. The usual stance in a group chat
3. When life gives you bagels...
4. Benefits of being a bagel
5. A step back that makes a difference
6. Considering your objectives

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NETWORKING: BAGEL OR CROISSANT?

Are you a bagel or a croissant?

When it comes to networking, what type of pastry are you?!

1.

Have you ever walked into a bustling networking event, only to find a room packed with bagels? It’s not those
tasty snacks at the side table that I’m talking about, but rather those tightly-closed circles of people talking to
each other, leaving little room for anybody else to join in. More often than not, bagel professionals already know
each other well. (A) _____ The solution? Be a croissant!

2.

It’s not just about the physical shape of the groups of people in a conference or other business-related event: it’s
also about how you are as a person. Bagel people prefer to rub shoulders with those already in their network, and
granted, it always pays off to strengthen those bonds. (B) _____ So, it’s important to find ways to back people up
in your social circle, such as sharing someone’s success on your social media or attending a talk they’re giving. By
investing your time and effort in others, you are seen by everyone as a giver, which in turn will make people want
to give to you when your time comes.

3.

However, networking is not just about boosting your existing social network, but also about extending it by making
new connections. (C) _____ They are open to making new contacts and willing to share their experience with them.
But how can you be more of a croissant at an event? Robbie Samuels, the networking expert who created this
pastry-related comparison, recommends having a clear plan of action before you set foot in the event. We often
spend a lot of time making arrangements concerning the trip and the hotel but give very little thought to how
we are going to establish key bonds once we’re there. "Having a strategy before you get to an event is what will
make it more successful," says Samuels. After all, it is the quality of the connections you make that matters, not
the quantity.

4.

What you want to do first is to reflect on your goals. What do you want your take-away from this event to be?
Maybe you’re trying to be headhunted for a new job, in which case you should strive to meet recruiters. You might
be stuck in a rut and are looking for inspiration, so you could reach out to people you admire in your field. (D)
_____ Having your goal crystal clear in your mind can help avoid that awkward situation when you’re all alone at
the event, trying to squeeze into a bagel.

5.

Back to the conference room, the difference between a bagel person and a croissant person can be something as
subtle as a detail in your body language. When we are in a group conversation, or even in a one-to-one chat, it’s
only natural that we come closer and face the person speaking: it not only makes it easier to catch what they’re
saying over all the noise in the room, but it also shows them that they have your undivided attention. (E) _____

6.

Instead, what Samuels suggests is a small change in your body position: stand with one foot slightly behind the
other, as if ready to walk. (F) _____ That way, you can still have great conversations with other people, but what
you’ve done now is to create an opening for anybody else to join in: it’s not a bagel anymore, it’s a croissant!

Sources: NPR, YouTube

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NETWORKING: BAGEL OR CROISSANT?

4 Reading 2

These sentences have been removed from the text. Read the text again and put the sentences in the
correct place A-F. Listen to the recording to check your answers.

1. You can even contact some of these people beforehand, introducing yourself and proposing a chat
face-to-face at the event.

2. After all, you don’t want to be that professional who only reaches out to someone when you need
a hand.

3. They are not very willing to step outside their comfort zone to meet any outsiders either.

4. That’s where croissant people are more successful.

5. It’s just a detail, but it makes the world of a difference.

6. However, by doing so, you’re also shutting other potentially valuable people out.

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NETWORKING: BAGEL OR CROISSANT?

5 Vocabulary 2

Look at these sentences from the text. What do you think the underlined expressions mean? Use
them to complete the sentences below. Make changes as necessary.

1. They are not very willing to step outside their comfort zone to meet any outsiders either.
2. Bagel people prefer to rub shoulders with those already in their network, ...
3. After all, you don’t want to be that professional who only reaches out to someone when you need a hand.
4. Robbie Samuels ... recommends having a clear plan of action before you set foot in the event.
5. You might be stuck in a rut and are looking for inspiration, so you could reach out to people you admire
in your field.
6. It not only makes it easier to catch what they’re saying over all the noise in the room, but it also shows
them that they have your undivided attention.

1. Now that Mark’s been promoted, he only the other managers. I

was in a lift with him the other day, and he didn’t even say hi!

2. The job is really well-paid, but I’d have to and manage budgets,
which isn’t exactly my expertise.

3. Sorry, let me just send this email ... done! You now . What can I
do for you?

4. I’ve been applying for other jobs – I really feel like I at this company.

5. Hi there! I apologise for you again, but I need your advice on

something.

6. When you’re finished with that report, I with the payroll. Is that
OK?

7. The moment I in the office, the boss called me into her office for
an emergency meeting.

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NETWORKING: BAGEL OR CROISSANT?

6 Grammar 1
Read the grammar box, then complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the
first sentence below.

Cleft sentences

Read the sentences below from the blogpost:

After all, it is the quality of the connections you make that matters, not the quantity.

What you want to do first is to reflect on your goals.

We use cleft sentences with It ... that ... or What ... is ... to give emphasis to something we
say.

1. We need to invite Mr Andrianakis for dinner after the event. → What

Mr Andrianakis for dinner after the event

2. I talked to the CEO of the company, not the marketing manager! → It ,

not the marketing manager!

3. I like to walk around the room first, and only then start talking to people. → What
, and only then start talking to people.

4. I think eye contact matters when networking, not so much your stance. → I think it
when networking, not so much your stance.

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NETWORKING: BAGEL OR CROISSANT?

7 Speaking

Imagine you and your classmates are at a networking event. Your teacher will tell you if you are a
bagel or a croissant.

8 Talking point

In groups, discuss the questions below.

1. How important is networking in your line of business?

2. Do you often go to conferences or other types of networking events?
3. Do you plan in advance who you want to meet at these events?
4. Are you more of a bagel person or a croissant person at an event?
5. What advice would you give someone starting in your field regarding networking?
6. What did you think of this blog post?

9 Extension activity

Part 1: Listen to the teacher’s instructions.

Part 2: In groups, record a video explaining the idea of bagels and croissants for a training session in
your company.

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