Networking 101: It’s not about what you know, but who you know
Your network can include anyone you know from your family, colleagues, friends to mentors/leaders. Although it isn’t completely necessary, having a strong network will no doubt benefit your professional and personal growth. Not only is it an avenue for new ideas and opportunities, it can also lead to meaningful and lasting relationships with people who will continue to inspire and support you throughout your journey.
With that being said, we understand that reaching out to people who are more experienced can often seem intimidating and outright terrifying, but we have some tips and steps you can take that will make the process a lot easier. Hopefully by the end of this section, you’ll be ready and excited to connect with new people!
So where do you start?
The first step is figuring out what it is that you’re interested in, then using either Linkedin or just Google to find people who are in that field. For example, if you’re interested in learning more about design, simply go on LinkedIn and type “Designer” into the search bar, and a list of people who’s title or description includes that name will pop up. It is often best to look for people who share something in common with you, either having a mutual connection or maybe you two went to the same school. Make sure to mention this in your message to boost your chances of getting a response.
You’ve found the person you want to talk to, now what?
Start with a short introduction of yourself—this should include your name, school, and grade/education level. Then talk about what you’re interested in learning about. Make sure to state how their experiences relate to what you’re trying to learn and how they can help you.
Here’s an example:
Hi ___,I hope you're having a wonderful day! My name is _____ and I recently graduated from ____ and studied ______. I'm very interested in product development because of __ (elaborate on the root of your interest/passion). I’ve been taking the time to learn more by [taking online courses, getting involved with x project with my friends, following (well-known person in the field/recent news event), reading (title of book)].
I saw that you used to be a Mechanical engineer at [Company Name] before you transitioned into product management. I’m curious to hear about the projects you’ve worked on. I recently read about (recent update on product or company if product isn’t in linkedin) and would love to get your thoughts on the (future outlook of the business/how update above will impact the team/long-term goals). It would be insightful to learn more about your experience and your career journey.
Thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!
[Your name]
Networking Tips by www.jcs-usa.com
Following up
If all goes well, you’ll receive a reply within a few days. But if you don’t, don’t panic, these days people are very busy and have a lot on their plate, they might have forgotten to reply or simply haven’t found the time to yet. It is important to send a follow-up message to show that you’re still interested in connecting and learning from them. In the follow-up message, make sure to state once again why you’re interested in speaking to them and what it is about their experience interests you. Do not simply copy and paste your last message!! You want to be sincere and show them that their help will be very valuable to you and their time will be appreciated.
How to prepare for the call/chat and what questions to ask:
It is extremely important to be prepared for your chat, and this means reading over their profiles, understanding what they did, and going in with questions.
Most people will begin by asking you to introduce yourself. This is your opportunity to show them who you are! Talk about who you are and why you’re here and don’t be shy to let them know that you don’t have much experience. Most people are extremely understanding because they, too, started from where you are.
Every person you network with will be different, some might be extremely well versed, and will begin telling you everything without you even asking, others will be rather reserved, only providing answers directly to your questions. In this case, we’ve prepared some good questions that you can ask in order to spark a conversation:
Why did you decide to pursue your current career?
What’s the most memorable work project that you love to tell?
What’s the most challenging aspect of your role?
What's something about your job/position that was most surprising when you started? Or what do you wish you had known before you started?
What other people do you recommend that I talk with? May I tell them that you referred me to them?
Can I get your email to reach out to you if I have any other questions? (mostly used to send a thank you email)
After the Networking Call
Be sure to send them a thank you message. In the message, include a couple of things you two spoke about, and tell them what it is you learned from your call. The most important thing is to keep in touch so you don’t lose the connection! This can be a simple message during the holidays or an update when you do get an internship or job.
Good luck and happy networking!
