The eight rainmakers networking tricks
1. Linkedin.com Forays: Linkedin.com is a great resource for networking with other professionals within your industry. You can make connections with thousands of people who you can ask for advice and network. Most of the people who join the website either want to move on with their careers or they wouldn’t take the time to try and network online. Use this website to find professionals within a company you want to work for, identify potential new hires, and propose new partnerships. Linkedin.com is free and backed by a leading technology venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital. To join my network, send me an email at [email protected].
2. Easy access to email Many people are hard to reach. This is not an accident. They are often busy or would simply receive too many sales pitches or spam emails if their contact information was open to the world. 95% of all email addresses within established corporations use a standard email format. For example, if he worked at Widgets, Inc., his email address might be [email protected] and his coworkers’ email addresses might be [email protected] and Chris. [email protected]. Every personal email address within the company is probably formatted to read [email protected]. Remember, email addresses are not the same in all companies, usually within a single company. This makes your quest to contact your target professional a much easier game. Visit their “About Us”, “Contact Us” or “Customer Service” web pages online. One of these areas typically includes someone’s personal email address, which will reveal the format throughout the company. If you’re having no luck finding an email address, try sending a short note to their customer service department and expect a response, which will usually come directly from someone with a standard email address.
While most people won’t mind you doing this, or even being asked how you got their email address, you should be aware that some people may react negatively if they’re “bothered” by someone they don’t know. Many people have told me that they admire that kind of intelligence and tenacity in trying to get things done. Keep your message very short and to the point, and keep it as professional as possible. This tactic will help you gain access to people others would give up after checking a website or trying to call multiple times. The point of emailing someone who hasn’t provided their contact information is not to annoy or sell them something they haven’t shown interest in. This tool should be used to network and suggest a meeting for coffee or discuss an idea over the phone that could benefit both parties.
3.Informational Interviews: Informational interviews are meetings typically initiated by a professional seeking to learn more about an industry, company, or potential set of positions. It is a meeting where the goal is to educate someone and establish a relationship. Informational interviews can be a great way to get your foot in the door of a new organization or learn about potential positions that aren’t open to the public. Many informational interviews lead to company tours, resume forwarding and job offers. As long as you are careful not to confuse this informational interview with a formal interview, building a strong relationship with your contact and really selling yourself can create an internal “champion” of your skills and abilities. I’ve done over 30 informational interviews and have only been turned down about 5 times out of about 35 applications I’ve made over the phone or in person. I was paid more when I graduated from high school than my teachers and the same as my college professors when I graduated from college and both jobs came from doing informational interviews. They work.
4. Enhance your resume: Your resume is an extension of yourself. Until a company has gotten to know you well, it’s you on paper. While most reports and documents shouldn’t be passed on to others without going through five drafts, resumes should be reviewed 20 times before being sent to a potential employer. It shouldn’t exceed one page in length, so the time to review it each time shouldn’t be too bad. If you’ve never done this before, pass your resume on to a few professionals close to you that you trust and ask them to help you. Make sure your resume is unique, full of action words and professional, noting real accomplishments and testimonials from previous supervisors, peers or teachers. What could you do to improve your real skills while improving your resume? Toastmasters? Publications? networks? Association memberships? Ask what hiring managers care about and work to gain those experiences.
5. Persistence: The importance of persistence in networking cannot be overstated. Start by making it a goal to have lunch, coffee, or an informational phone interview at least once a week with a professional in your industry. Some people will answer your first phone call and give you the information you need, while others will take months to reach. Never take any of your answers personally. My father always said “no answer means nothing”. Have him try to understand his point of view and learn from the situation for your next networking initiative. As he networks, he will meet all kinds of people and learn to read each unique individual and adjust his approach accordingly. If he leaves a voicemail on Monday, follow up with an email and allow 4-6 business days before leaving a second. If he’s connected enough, he’ll get a very sensitive sense of how much persistence is helpful without being so pushy that others don’t want to take the time to help him.
6. Website: Create a website that describes your experience, education, and any relevant professional publications. I have found it very helpful to have my resume downloadable directly from the website in Microsoft Word format. This allows you to be “Googled” and allows you to give people your web address over the phone or on a business card. To see an example of this type of website, visit http://www.RichardCWilson.com.
7. Presentations – Your ability to communicate ideas effectively, create PowerPoint presentations, and give speeches will go a long way in developing your personal image and career. No matter how early or far into your career you are, you can get stronger by improving your speaking skills. Join a local emcee club or start speaking at local schools and associations. The best part of presenting information is that it makes you a source of value and draws people to you.
8. Publish: Publishing articles, books, newsletters, columns, and websites are other ways you can become a valuable resource to others. If you feel you can’t write well enough to publish something professionally, start writing your first article today and ask a friend or co-worker to help you edit it.