<p>" The dude’s works at a firm that hires engineers. Trust me, there will be plenty of single male engineers that don’t have dates at the event."</p>
<p>Not too sure about this. Although I agree that a lot of engineers have trouble with girls I’m younger than the next youngest person by 10 years and i’m the only single person within my group. Not sure about whos single and who isn’t with the rest of the company but I can tell you that they are mainly in their 40s so I’d be surprised if they aren’t married.</p>
<p>We’re all at different places. For hubby’s parties, for a while I went to a bunch of their parties. He rarely comes to mine. When we go as a couple to either’s company parties, the 1st obligation is for the employee to socialize & whichever of us is the guest does his/her best to socialize.</p>
<p>I was one of the youngest attorneys in our law firm but it was always OK for me to go solo; some of the young marrieds also came stag (babysitting and other conflicts, perhaps). Not all spouses enjoy attending employee events in any case.</p>
<p>I agree that it’s best to have very little (or no) alcohol–you may wish to get a club soda with a lemon or lime or something, so it LOOKS like you are drinking something or nurse a single beer or glass of wine all night.</p>
<p>An invitation that includes a guest means that you MAY feel free to bring a guest but you certainly do not HAVE to. If you don’t end up having a guest to bring, just go. Enjoy yourself, make it a point to introduce yourself to others in the company you don’t know, don’t drink too much, and have fun. You will not be the only unaccompanied employee/engineer there.</p>
<p>Go to the party. The office party is one of those events…if you go NO ONE will notice…but if you do not go, EVERYONE will notice. Go yourself and realize that the invitation isn’t a mandate that you bring a date…just a note that you may do so.</p>
<p>I will be VERY surprised if you are the only single guy there. And if you are…be prepared…maybe there will be folks who will want to fix you up with their neighbor, daughter, cousin…etc. for a future date!!</p>
<p>"I will be VERY surprised if you are the only single guy there. And if you are…be prepared…maybe there will be folks who will want to fix you up with their neighbor, daughter, cousin…etc. for a future date!! "</p>
<p>"if we were in our hometown I would definitely be using this as an opportunity to match make! "</p>
<p>It looks as though it’ll be very difficult for me to bring an actual date. What I MIGHT be able to do is convince a female friend who already had a b/f so go with me as friends. I didn’t think that people at my work would be interested in helping me find a date. If i bring a fake-date everybody would think i’d be okay in the dating department and not offer help. </p>
<p>So would it be a better idea to go alone?</p>
<p>note: i don’t know too many girls so even asking a friend to help out is a bit of a long shot.</p>
<p>My opinion: It’s weirder to show up with someone you don’t know well just to have a date. Our company Christmas parties always have several people there on their own: their SO can’t come, they are single at the moment, and so on. One year one of the youngest in the group brought a friend who was obviously a place holder, very nice and all, and it was a bit awkward.</p>
<p>Thermo offered great advice–go alone, socialize, one drink only, and don’t be shy if someone from work connects you with a niece, friend, etc.</p>
<p>Often office parties are a drag for the spouse and/or significant other. At HS reunions, several women came solo, knowing their hubbies would want to leave in 5 minutes.</p>
<p>Are you kidding? People love to get involved with your love life! I’m sure a lot of people have a niece/daughter/neighbor that they would love to set up with a guy who has an education and a good job.</p>
<p>I meant Thumper, but basically everyone has told the OP to go solo. He can always leave early if he doesn’t dance. If he does, I’m sure he will have lots of partners.</p>
<p>True about the dancing–a lot of women are married to men who don’t dance but the women could very well love to dance with someone who was a good dancer.</p>
<p>The posts on this thread are not very practical so here’s the net of it… I work for a fortune 10 company and have gone to the last two christmas parties single in addition to numerous company sponsored parties that occur throughout the year. There is no problem with it except for one thing… you won’t be able to talk to any female and should restrict yourself from doing so because it will look like you are hitting on them.</p>
<p>The girl might not think you are hitting on her, but your coworkers will. My office is the same way. The moment you talk to someone of the opposite sex the rumor mill starts to spread!!</p>