If you’re currently in transition, thinking about making a change, or deciding to hang out a shingle, these suggestions will help you level up your networking game.
Are you happily ensconced in your role? These same tips apply to building your social capital internally and externally to help achieve your goals.
Don’t overthink it. Some people are shy about reaching out; they don’t want to impose, etc. Networking is building relationships. Any more than that, you’re making it more complicated than it needs to be.
Identify your network. Create a list of 150 people you know. Yes, you do know that many people! Don’t limit yourself to business contacts. Think about your neighbors, your Pickle Ball buddies, parents of your kids’ friends, your stylist, etc. Everyone knows someone. You never know who can connect you with your next great opportunity.
Prioritize your list and start your outreach accordingly:
- Your strong ties (your inner circle, those that know you well)
- Your dormant ties (people you know but have been out of touch with)
- Your weak ties (those you know but not very well)
This will enable you to practice your networking pitch with your strong ties first. There’s less pressure to be “perfect” because they’re going to love you even if you fumble all over your words.
Next, reach out to your dormant ties (emphasis on #6 below – build the relationship first, acknowledge you’ve been out of touch, ask how they’re doing, etc.)
Now you’re ready to reach out to your weak ties. You will have had some networking wins, your confidence will be higher, and you will know exactly what you want to communicate, thus putting your best foot forward.
Have a plan. Some things to consider:
- What’s your goal for networking? This will help you determine who to reach out to.
- What do you want people to know about you? This will help you craft your message in your outreach and for your conversations.
- How much time do you have each week to devote to networking? This will help you create your networking schedule and make it more manageable.
- What’s most comfortable for you? If you like big events, have at it. I’m more of a 1-1 person and prefer a Zoom call or coffee IRL.
Just start. Yes, it may sound counter to what I’ve just said in #4, but it’s not. Yes, you want to have a plan so you come across as prepared and organized, but the plan doesn’t need to be grandiose. You don’t need five versions of your resume to be prepared to talk to different types of people, etc. Go with what you’ve got to start.
Focus on the relationship first. Spend time reconnecting with people or getting to know them and helping them know you before you jump in with, “Do you know of any jobs?” or “Do you have any jobs in your company?” We live in a relationship economy. People first, task second.
Be OK not having all the answers. In addition to reconnecting or meeting new people, the beauty of networking is gaining different perspectives, and learning something new. Networking will expose you to ideas you haven’t yet considered. Don’t wait until you have everything “figured out” in order to start the process. It’s iterative.
Make it easy for people to help you. There are two ways to do this.
- If you have a list of target companies or market sectors you’re interested in, share this with people and tell them you’d welcome an introduction for networking if they know of anyone in these companies. This provides them with a specific call to action and its easy for someone to look at the list and say “Oh, I know people at three of these companies I can connect you with.”
- Alternatively, be clear about the types of people you’d like to be introduced to, such as “HR people or product leaders in small to mid-sized biotech companies.” This also creates a call to action, though it requires a little more work on their end to think about who they might know.
If possible, avoid saying, “I’m looking for a senior-level engineering role in a technology company. Please let me know if you hear of anything.” Why? Because people are too busy. Despite best intentions, the likelihood that someone will think of you when they hear of something two months down the road is slim. Make it easy for them to support your search.
Offer to help. Sometimes we’re so focused on our own needs we forget to offer help. If someone has taken the time to meet with you, make sure to offer your support to them. It can be as simple as, “Is there anything I can do for you?”
Don’t “dine and dash.” Keep people in your network apprised of your progress. If someone has introduced you to new people, send a quick follow-up note and let them know how the meeting went. It’s another opportunity to thank them for their support, and also stay on their radar. Tip: Make a calendar reminder to follow up at an appropriate juncture.
Don’t give up. If you’re in full-on job search mode, it can be exhausting (it can also be fun and exhilarating – it’s your choice.) People may not get back to you right away. Some may rebuff your request to meet. Some meetings won’t be as fruitful as others. Don’t take it personally. Just move to the next person on your list. (And how great is it that you have a list of 150 people to tap into!) 🙂
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Heading to a conference? Here are 42 Networking Questions you can ask.
