You’ve heard it before: The best way to land a new job is through networking and making connections. But many people are stumped as to what that means and how it plays out in reality, unless you’re lucky enough to have been offered positions throughout your career. What exactly does making those connections look like, and how should you approach it?
There are many ways to do it — in person, through social media, phone or by email. All are valid and can be useful in different ways. Nothing can replace interactions in person, but it will require follow up. Some of the ways to develop new connections are to join groups with similar interests (hobbies or social), reach out to alumni from your school or find shared connections on LinkedIn. Once you begin the process of connecting, make sure you’re making them count.
[See: Don’t Be That Guy (or Gal): 8 Networking Turn-Offs.]
Ask more explicitly. If you’re under the assumption that your friends or colleagues would introduce you to people if they knew folks who could be helpful to you, think again. Most people are too busy to think this way, and will not connect the dots among people unless specifically directed. Therefore, it’s incumbent upon you to ask them if there is one person they think you should talk to as you seek to make a career or job change. Make it even easier for them to say yes by offering to supply a message about you and your desire to connect.
Ask for specific introductions. If there is a person who you would like to meet at a company and you know someone who works at said company, ask for an introduction. You’re likely to get a more favorable response if the introduction is made by a mutual connection. If you want to reach out to someone who is a second-degree connection on LinkedIn, it’s your call. You can write them and mention the connection in common (as long as it’s someone you actually know) or you can request an introduction. If you do, offer to send a script to the intermediary that explains who you are and why you want to connect.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Make it meaningful. When you reach out to someone you’ve been introduced to or to someone you’ve never met, make it meaningful. Do not ask at first contact with the person whether they have contacts at a company in which you’re interested in. Instead, request a brief chat by email or phone to answer your questions. If you’re trying to connect with someone on LinkedIn, include a personal note instead of the form LinkedIn message. If their contact information is available, write a personal email instead. If you have something in common, such as a hobby, former employer or school, mention it. This is a quick way to develop rapport.
Give. Don’t think of your outreach as a one-way street. You should always ask if there’s some way you can help the other person, either at the time of contact or down the road. One example is to offer to introduce them to people in your network who may be helpful to them. The definition of success is not only numbers-based. Building strong connections and networks is most often a result of giving and seeking nothing in return. This creates trust and long-lasting relationships that pay dividends on their own in time.
[See: 16 Things You’re Doing All Wrong on LinkedIn.]
Follow up. You must leverage each new relationship of value to you. When you gather business cards, make a note on the back to remind you of where you met, along with a detail about the conversation, and an asterisk for those you feel could be helpful to you. Email the person on the following day to tell them how much you enjoyed the conversation and reference one of your discussion topics. If you can help the person in some way, such as by sending a relevant article or an offer to connect them with someone, do so. From there, create a reminder in your calendar to reach out to those people in two to three months.
There are many ways to network, and it’s best to use the methods that feel most comfortable to you. No matter how many ways you approach networking this year, keep these golden rules in mind in order to develop and maintain strong, effective relationships.
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How to Network Better in 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com
