3 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Networking
Let’s be real. Networking doesn’t come naturally to everyone. If you’ve never networked before, it’s understandably intimidating and uncomfortable. Although it appears daunting at first, networking isn’t as complicated as it seems. Just think of networking as forming authentic connections with other professionals.
When you’re at the beginning of your career journey, making professional connections is essential for success down the line. Networking can advance your early career in a number of ways, whether that means getting your resume passed along to a recruiter or simply connecting with someone who can offer you advice. Part of knowing how to network well is knowing that there’s some major no-no’s to avoid.
Let’s get into some networking mistakes to avoid so you can make career connections effectively, but most importantly, authentically.
Don’t Hit Up the CEO
We all want to be best friends with our favorite girl boss, but if I cold-emailed a Fortune 500 CEO, there’s a strong chance that email would go unread.
Oftentimes, the most important person to network with in the company hierarchy isn't necessarily the person at the top but rather, those who are directly involved in hiring. One of the most effective networking hacks is to hit up the recruiter at the company you’re applying to. Since recruiters are directly involved in the hiring process, reaching out to them increases the chances of getting your resume read.
You can find recruiters by searching ‘recruiter’ on LinkedIn and cross-referencing it with the company you’re interested in. In addition to finding recruiters, you can also use LinkedIn search filters to find people who are in departments or teams you’re interested in working in.
Don’t Ask to Pick Someone’s Brain
I’ll be honest. I’ve definitely done this before. There’s nothing wrong with this phrase, but people with coveted positions hear it all the time. If your message looks like everyone else’s, it’s easier to ignore and forget about. Making yourself stand out will help the person you’re reaching out to get to know you and more importantly, remember who you are.
Instead of just asking to ‘pick someone’s brain,’ make sure you incorporate why you reached out to them in your message. Your opening connection to someone can be identity-related or it can be something school-related, such as attending the same university or belonging to the same sorority. As an aspiring writer, I’ve sent countless DMs and emails to Black female editors expressing my interest in their career path.
Cold messaging people you have nothing in common with can sometimes work, but starting your relationship with people who you share something in common with or can identify with is more effective. Once you’ve developed a relationship with someone, they’ll be much more receptive to your inquiries into their work.
Don’t Forget to Stay in Contact with Your Connections
After using the first two tips to acquire your first successful connection and complete a networking call or coffee date, what comes next?
One of the most important things to remember about networking is that it’s all about the long-term. Even if you manage to have a successful informational interview, there might not always be an open position in the company at that time. This is why it’s crucial to periodically check in with your networking connections over time.
Is your connection a writer? Stay up to date on their articles so that you can message them a “Loved you latest piece!’’ when they have a new story that dropped. Did your new connection just post about a promotion or company relocation on LinkedIn? Make sure to congratulate them on their new career move! If you’ve recently completed a project you’re really excited about, it doesn’t hurt to keep them updated on your own work as well.
Staying connected with your contacts — whether that means staying up to date on their career, sharing your own work or simply wishing them a happy holiday — is a great way to ensure that you’re at the forefront of their mind when a new position opens up.
Networking is hard, but the most important thing to remember is to not become discouraged. Rather, rethink your approach — what can you do differently to make better connections? This might mean tapping into DM’s as opposed to LinkedIn messaging, getting creative with your email subject lines or even reaching out to local professionals in your area.
If you stay specific, authentic and determined in your approach, you’ll be networking your way to your dream position in no time.
Written by Isabel Bekele
