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Everyone knows that especially in our COVID-tightened job market, networking is key to landing a good job.
Here’s an approach to networking that has worked for a number of my clients. I call it the 10-seed model: Networking is like planting seeds. If you plant 10, if you’re lucky, seven will germinate. Then, additional watering and time is typically required to see if it turns into a lovely plant or a too-flawed one. Here’s how that metaphor translates to networking:
Step 1: List the 10 (or more if you’re more motivated) people you’d much like to and have a realistic chance of working for. If it’s an organization rather than a person, use LinkedIn or a Google search to find an appropriate person within that organization: LinkedIn lets you search on title, alma mater, former employer, etc. Read a few profiles and intuit who you think might connect best with you.
Step 2: Decide whether you’d do better writing or phoning. If writing, try to find their email address by googling their name, the organization, the word email, for example, [“Deborah Michaels” “Trader Joe’s” email.] Or use LinkedIn’s InMail. (The first month’s membership is free.) That won’t work 100 percent of the time but should work often enough.
If you’re planning to phone, google-search to find the organization’s main phone number. Try [“name of organization" headquarters phone.] Then, google the first six digits of that number and the person’s name, for example, [650-723 “Deborah Michaels.”]
Even if you can find only the organization’s main number, whether you get a live person or automated system, you should often enough be able to get connected, at least to the person's voicemail. As with the search for an email address, this won’t always work but often enough is good enough.
Step 3: Carefully craft your message. If it's under 100 words, it suggests inadequate interest, longer than 200 may be asking too much of a stranger's time. More important, of course, is what you say. Here’s a sample, pretty much appropriate for either an email and phone ask.
Dear Ms. Michaels,
I recently completed my bachelor’s in human resources management. The further I got in the program, especially in my fieldwork and internship, the more my interest in the field grew. While, at this point, I’m open to much in the field, I have a special interest in managing the racial and gender tensions that seem to be accelerating in many of today’s workplaces.
I am writing to you in hopes of advice or even a lead on a job. Yes, part of why I chose you is because I live near your headquarters, but in reading your LinkedIn profile, I noticed your interest in a fair-minded exploration of race and gender issues in the workplace.
I’d really appreciate your calling me, perhaps with a bit of advice on how I might launch my career or, dare I hope, even a job lead.
Thank you for considering it.
Sincerely,
Joe Jobseeker
Step 4: Rehearse just a bit because over-rehearsing ensures sterility and because you’re so tied to a script, you increase your chance of getting bolloxed-up. Then replace your script with a few bullet points and make the queries.
To avoid procrastination, make your queries one right after another. Start with your lowest-priority person because you’ll get better with each reach-out. And do remember, they’re not expecting a polished speaker. Just speak your truth concisely with moderate enthusiasm and even if your missives are filled with ums and retracements, when day is done, good things are more likely to happen than if you didn’t make those inquiries.
Also remember, that you’re not asking for a handout, merely a bit of advice, which most people, when not busy, are pleased to give. And as long as you promise yourself that you'll help when you’re in a position to, the karma is good.
Step 5: Typically, you’ll get a response from only half your reach-outs, and of those who respond, most or all will say they have nothing for you other than perhaps a bit of advice. At that point, ask if s/he wouldn’t mind keeping ears open and if you’re still looking a month from now, if s/he’d mind your circling back.
Step 6: Write an influencing note. This is a more potent version of the thank-you letter. Explain how you benefited from their advice and reiterate your appreciation that they’re open to your recontacting them.
Step 7: Do any homework that your contacts suggests. If you’re lucky, one or more of them will suggest that you read something, attend some virtual meeting, whatever. Do it promptly and then email the person to say you’ve done so, and if you found it valuable, say so. That demonstrates your being a follow-through person and are appreciative.
The takeaway
I wish that landing a good job was easier than it is. Alas, it's harder than ever amid the COVID economic contraction. But this approach to networking has helped a number of my clients. I hope it helps you.
I read this aloud on YouTube.
