"It's the difference between being assertive and being aggressive," says Carole Stone, author of The Ultimate Guide To Successful Networking (Vermilion, £4.99). "No one wants to talk to someone who's over-confident. But you can qualify what you say so that it doesn't sound like bragging. Slip it into the conversation that you were thrilled to be offered your new job, or delighted by the experience of working for a particular person.
"Remind yourself of what you've achieved so far. People are like horses - they sense when someone's nervous - and an air of confidence does wonders.
"But remember that the real secret is to give the person you're talking to your full attention, and ask about them. You may feel this is your only chance to impress them, but if you've made an impression you can always follow up the conversation with a phone call or an email the next day, saying 'It was lovely to meet you. I forgot to mention...'"
"Establish your credentials
in the simplest way possible by asking the person you meet how he or she knows the host," advises Mary Killen, the Spectator's etiquette expert. "Politely, he or she will respond by asking you the same question, which gives you the perfect opportunity to talk up social and professional successes in an apparently carefree manner."