HealthyBea

Networking Tips

Because networking is a delicate activity, involving a balance of thoughtful initiators and willing recipients, it requires a series of careful and concentrated actions. Failing any may ruin one’s opportunity of a connection, so it’s vital to nail each step of the way. Let me begin by explaining the mistakes I have seen, and then I will share best practices from the perspectives of both a young professional and a more seasoned individual. 

MISTAKES

• Outreach
  • Lack of introduction explaining who you are, how you found the person, and what you’re interested in
  • Asking for too much before you two have ever spoken. Whatever you do, DO NOT ask this contact to pass along your resume during your first interaction. I completely ignore these requests. It is unreasonable, inconsiderate, and honestly, very lazy. I would never risk my reputation by referring you before I know anything about you, nor would I offer you a chance before someone else who may put more thought and care into their outreach
  • Responding slowly 
  • Failing to propose general timing to structure your request (after the connection has responded with willingness to help)
  • Failing to send the invite if a call was agreed upon
• During the Communication
  • Showing up late or missing the call altogether (yes, I have seen this before)
  • Lack of preparation to explain your goals and/or ask specific questions 
  • Little engagement during the call (I promise it’s okay if you’re nervous, but the individual needs to see you’re trying!)
  • Again, asking for too much too soon
  • Taking up too much time/being inconsiderate of their time in whatever way
• Follow Up
  • Slow follow-up if you’ve promised to send something 
  • Expecting your connection to help you too soon, or again, with too much 

BEST PRACTICES

• Outreach
  • Briefly explain your background/goals, how you found the individual/what the connection is, and what you’re seeking
  • Especially if the connection is loose, ensure your request is reasonable. You really should only be asking for a quick conversation or insight into a few specific questions
• During the Communication
  • If you’re speaking on a call, ensure the invite is for a maximum of 30 minutes
  • If meeting in person, ask your contact how much time works for them. Sometimes 1 hour is acceptable depending on schedules and depth of the connection
  • Try to have some sort of career goals in mind. Even if you are considering a million things or not really sure, come prepared with a perspective to help the recipient understand how to help
  • Keep your requests minimal and allow the space for your connection to propose support if they feel comfortable with it. Unless I am automatically very impressed by an individual and therefore happy connecting them with someone I know, I will only promise to look at their resume and cover letter to suggest edits
  • Have a list of questions ready to go so that you can lead the conversation. Make it as easy and seamless for the busy recipient. If you’re interesting in entering the same industry as them, bonus points if you bring insight into trends or news within
  • I am not saying you need to dress up, but dress to impress. Especially if you’re meeting in person, put in the effort to demonstrate your commitment to making a good impression
• Follow Up
  • Send a thank you email within a few days after the call 
  • If you requested something, such as a resume or cover letter edit, communicate when you will send and stick to that timing. Your connection may need to build that work into their schedule, so be mindful of their time 

I know reading this may make networking seem intimidating, but ultimately you just need to consider your decisions during the process using the below criteria: 

1. Put in the work
2. Be considerate
3. Think about how you’d like someone to reach out to and interact with you if you were the one being contacted for support
4. Don’t ever assume someone will be comfortable completing your request
5. Communicate your gratitude for their help every step of the way

Ultimately, people want to help, but the conditions need to be ideal and they need to know that the person with which they are interacting is kind, appreciative, proactive, and let’s be honest, worth their time. I highly encourage you to be brave and reach out to someone (regardless of their title) who you feel could really help you from an information or connection perspective. As long as you do it the right way, it can never hurt! 

Now go make those professional connections!

Best,

Bea