Internet Networking Etiquette and Some Secrets
Consulting | Mohit | May 5, 2010 at 6:21 am
Networking is a buzz word that is so common that hardly a day goes by in the corporate world before someone mentions it. Companies such as LinkedIn, Ning etc. are cashing in on the craze, its obvious that everyone wants to network and understandably so, having a strong network helps one find that coveted job, expand one’s knowledge and even get new business.
I am going to restrict the scope of this post to ” Internet Networking”. So here’s the picture, you have created an account with one of the popular networking sites, Linkedin or even on our very own member’s section (Apologies, had to do a little bit of self marketing here), now you want to obviously make new connections and exploit possible job/business opportunities. Sounds simple enough right? Well no not really..
Merely sending out numerous invites to people isn’t exactly what i would call a Winning Strategy. Sure by the end of the month you would have 100 or so connections, but the output would most likely fall to zero. Now here’s a secret.
“Don’t make connections, Build relationships”
That’s all there is to it, Many times people send invites where they directly ask for referrals on the very first contact. Here’s the catch, why would anyone want to refer someone he or she barely knows? What does that person gain by referring an absolute stranger? Nothing at all.
Here is a simple run down list that one must consider before sending out invites.
1. Can this person help me? i.e. is the person from the recruitment team of the target company? or is the person from the target department of the target company? There is no point just sending random invites to people, for example if you want to get a job in the risk management division of a company then sending out invites to someone from the business advisory division would not help.
2. Is the person open to invitations? If a person has limited connections and specifically mentions on his/her profile that he/she does not appreciate unknown invitations, then its best not to approach that person.
3. Is there a contact email listed ? if there is a contact email listed then its better to email the person than to send him/her an invite. Response rate to emails is much higher than invites. An invite can be looked upon as an attempt on intrude on someone’s privacy but an email is merely a call for help.
Some things to keep in mind..
1. Do not ask for referrals on the very first contact.
2. Acknowledge the fact that the other person has accepted your invitation. Thank him/her.
3. Get to know the person and more importantly ask relevant questions. Some obvious questions include asking about your target organization/department etc. . Don’t ask for a referral but make sure the other person knows your intention.
4. Remember that a new contact would not result in a referral straightaway. Relationships whether they be online or offline are built over a period of time. Little things count a lot, for example if your connection gets a promotion then dropping him a message congratulating him can work wonders, wishing someone on a holiday like Christmas/Diwali etc is also good.
5. Don’t try to con the other person into referring you.
6. Be considerate, be honest, be humble and most importantly be patient.
Here’s an example for a bad first contact email by Person X
Hi Mohit,
I am very much open to a change in my current job. Can you please suggest me some openings you are aware of as you are a inside candidate. Any immediate help will be appreciated.
Person X
Here’s what Person X did wrong. He not only asked me to refer him but also asked me to refer him immediately. This can be quite annoying for most people. I do not know this individual there is absolutely no reason for me to refer him or to accept his invite.
Now here’s an example of a good first contact email by Person Y
Hi Mohit,
I trust your doing well, its a pleasure to be connected. I currently working with Company Y as Designation Z.
I am interested in working for Company A, I would be would be really obliged if you could spare some time and answer a few queries.
(List down some questions you have on Company A/Division at Company A)
Thank you so much for your time. Do let me know if there is any thing I can do for you.
Kind Regards
Person Y
The above email is more likely to get a response.Person Y tells me something about himself, asks me some relevant questions. Though he does not explicitly state that he is looking for a referral, however, he drops a subtle hint in his email that he would not mind a referral.
Asking a stranger for a referral is like asking your neighbor to take you with him on his family vacation to Disney Land, your neighbor can obviously take you provided he is an extremely kind and gracious individual, however in all probability he wont.
Remember people love to help others, but you need to ask for help the right way. Be genuine and that’s all there is to it. I am going to end this post with the one liner that i stated earlier “Don’t make connections, Build relationships”
Drop in your suggestions/queries to the author in the comments section below.
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Tags: Consulting, Etiquette, Networking
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