Networking | Career Building
Ace Your Networking Game: Part 1
The Foolproof Networking Strategies That Work Every Time
I’ve been a consultant for over 25 years, and I can’t recall one job I applied for with the conventional resume-submission routine. In this 3-part series, I will go over networking strategies I have been using, and still use now.
I went to a conference where one of the owners, Janet, of the company I wanted to work for was speaking at. I went to Janet’s session and waited until the end to approach her. I told her a specific part I found interesting about her talk and what I took away from it, and thanked her for such a great session. A month later, I was in the lobby handing my resume to the receptionist (this was back when you mailed or hand-delivered resumes!). I asked if Janet happened to be around because I wanted to say hi. She came by, saw me, recognized me and invited me in to have a coffee with her. I met the other two owners that afternoon and had a job offer by the time I reached home.
If you read part 2and/or 3, skip ahead to after the section break.
I interpret “networking” to be
Expanding your professional circle to enrich your personal growth and boost your career.
In this 3 part series, I will cover who you need to network with, where to find them, how to approach them, and how to build those relationships over time.
Broadly, I classify the people you network with into three categories:
Mentors
Experts who inspire and motivate you.
They provide insights based on their expertise that you can learn from.
Champions
These individuals bring up your name when opportunities arise.
They might recommend you as an expert or suggest your name for a promotion or job opening when you’re not present.
Peers
These are your colleagues who provide insightful advice and support.
Being at the same level, they can provide you with honest opinions about managers, employers, and hands-on tips, while also relating to your everyday experiences.
For Part 1, I am going to focus on ‘Mentors’.
Finding Your Mentors
Consider where you aspire to work. That might be a specific company, a sector, or a role. Identify people in that area who are 2–3 tiers above your own. The most straightforward method to curate your list is through LinkedIn (I provide more in-depth guidance on using LinkedIn to my mentees), or you may find them within your current work environment.
Let’s focus on those in the former category you don’t have easy-access to.
Begin with a shortlist of about 5 individuals, then delve into their LinkedIn profiles. Explore their presence on social media and conduct a Google search to glean more about them. Can you find something relatable or engaging about them? Perhaps they have written a compelling article here on Medium.com? A genuine connection is crucial, and it should not be forced. If you can’t find anything that resonates with you, then that person might not be the ideal mentor for you.
Once you find someone who you find common interests with, extend a request to connect. Depending on your point of mutual interest, you might decide to message them on LinkedIn, DM them on Instagram, reply to their tweet, or comment on their Medium.com article. Personalizing your message enhances its impact, so try to engage privately rather than merely publicly.
In your message, let them know how you felt about whatever it was you found that resonated with you. If it was an article, just mentioning that you liked their article isn’t enough. Provide substance to your message. Let them know what words exactly hit you. Maybe you had read something similar that you can compare it to. Maybe you are working on something that connects with it. Maybe it’s just a topic that interests you and you enjoyed x-y-z points specifically.
Then, tell them you are interested in speaking with them about this topic further so you can learn more from them. Politely request if they could spare half an hour for a video chat at their convenience.
If they’re too busy for now, suggest checking in after a couple of months and make a note in your calendar.
If they’re available for a meeting, fantastic! Be relaxed during the meet — it’s not an interview(I offer tips on overcoming interview anxiety to my mentees!). Take the first few minutes to thank them for their time and reiterate why you wanted to connect and why the topic captivates you. Then, let them lead the conversation while you attentively listen. Allow the conversation to progress organically.
Reminder
This is not an interview. Do not ask for a job. Do not ask about giving your resume. Do not ask about roles available. Do not pass Go — Do not collect $200.
Finally, thank them for their time. Ask if it would be ok to connect with them on LinkedIn, and if they may be open to chatting again in a few months. Follow up with a personal thank-you email the next morning.
Congratulations! You found a new Mentor through networking — an expert in a field that intrigues you and it wasn’t so scary after all, was it?
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