— November 1, 2023 —
Networking is often one of those dreaded tasks… Our clients continuously tell us how daunting it is, how they “dislike” doing it, and they are likely to procrastinate doing it. However, it is such an important and effective way to build relationships, make career transitions, and gather industry insights. We’re here to help break it down and make it easy for you!
What are some important things to consider with networking?
Do your homework. Identify 5-10 companies that you are interested in working for, and seek out connections at these companies to reach out to for career exploration meetings. Make sure you have researched the companies and gathered as much insight prior to your meetings to demonstrate you’re prepared and respecting their time.
Be realistic. Give yourself a goal of reaching out to one person every two weeks (or whichever cadence is realistic for you), and book the meeting. In person is always best if you can, but virtual meetings or phone calls also work well!
Make it about them (not you!). When you are meeting, give them a quick introduction on who you are and why you reached out to them. Keep your own part brief and tailor it to highlighting aspects of your experience that might be most closely aligned to the company. People love to talk about themselves so keep the conversation focused on them.
Demonstrate gratitude. Always thank the person – extensively! Make sure to thank them for their time during the meeting (at least once!) and then send a follow-up note. If there is anything that came up in the meeting that you need to follow-up on, send it to them then.
With these tips and tricks, you are well on your way with your networking plan! We can offer scripts, coaching, and further strategies to help you on your journey. Happy networking!