Do This At Every Networking Meeting
Four Minute Read
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TBH, I prefer not to use the phrases “networking meeting” or “informational interview.” They are simply opportunities to build relationships.
A surprising number of people spend too much of their job search effort applying to jobs and not enough time on the conversations that will ultimately lead to employment.
Even those who DO know how important relationship building is often don’t take full advantage of those conversations.
Here are some top tips for making the most of these meetings. Note that many of these principles also apply to interviews.
Prepare so you’ll have a great meeting. Do your homework on the person you’re meeting and their company. LinkedIn is the best place to start. Google search and the person’s company website, and Glassdoor are great sources. Review your contact’s career and educational history. This will inform the questions you ask.
Get yourself in the right mindset for the meeting. Remember that every conversation is a two-way street. Set aside any feelings that you're needy or unworthy by being in a job search. Everyone has something valuable to add to a conversation. Fresh perspectives, current knowledge from classes or the news, or simply your day-to-day life experiences are all things you bring to the table. When you own this mindset, you won’t be as nervous and will be at your best.
Ask if the person you’re speaking with has any time constraints. The last thing you want is to run out of time, and you don’t get to the most important piece of your agenda. More on that in bullet #5.
Be forthright about your agenda. Be direct about searching for a job or internship or at least that you’re thinking about it. Your message in the meeting isn’t simply, “Do you know of any jobs for me?” Instead, it is about having a curious conversation. It’s sharing a bit about you, your strengths and interests, and learning about roles, companies, and industries. It’s about getting to know the other person and their career journey. Establish a personal connection. Potential introductions and jobs may flow naturally from these types of conversations.
Don’t forget to ask for referrals. This is where many people slip up. At the end of the meeting, ask, “Are there any people with whom you think it makes sense for me to speak?” It’s as simple as that. There are several possible responses. They may suggest you reach out to people and use their name. They may say they’ll make an introduction. They may say they don’t have any ideas right now, but they’ll think about it. The goal is to try to be able to control the follow-up. Meaning it’s best if they make an email intro, copying you. That way, you can follow up. Follow up a few times if necessary, spaced out over a reasonable number of days for them to respond. It may take a couple of tries to get the introduced person to respond to you. If it’s in the hands of the person you’ve spoken to to “pass your name along,” you don’t have an opportunity to follow up.
Send a thank you and follow up with the person you met. Make sure to send a thank you within 24 hours of the meeting. Reference something interesting you discussed, not simply “Thank you for your time.” If the person mentioned some referral ideas but didn’t say how you’d connect with them, now’s the chance to ask in the thank you email.
Respect a person’s referrals. The person with whom you met put their reputation on the line by introducing you. It’s on you to follow through and in a respectful way. If you don’t, that may be the last referral you get from that person.
Look for opportunities to nurture the relationship further. It’s valuable to share things, like relevant articles, with the person you meet occasionally. It shows that you are trying to help them. It also gets you in front of them again in case they have some new idea or person for you. These check-ins don’t end after you’ve landed. Let them know what you’re doing, and make it a point to keep the relationship alive. This may not be your last job search.
Properly done, having relationship-building meetings vastly increases the number of people out there who know you, know what you can do, and what you want to do. With enough time and effort, you will achieve your career objectives and build an appreciating asset that will serve you well throughout your lifetime. There’s truth to the adage, “Your network’s your net worth!”
Do you or someone you know need help determining what kinds of roles and companies would be great work situations? Conducting an effective job search without endlessly applying online? I coach and advise people 1:1 and in hybrid 1:1/small group settings. Learn more about my career coaching and sign up for a free 30-minute Career Solutions Call.