Networking: Are you begging or building?

Jason Alba’s jibberjobber.com blog has got buzz. His tongue-in-cheek post “Networking does not work” got tongues wagging - or at least fingers typing - including mine:

Networking DOES work. Time and again, my clients land positions using their network. BUT, as others have said, it must be done right. “Hey, know anyone who’s hiring?” is NOT networking done right. And this happens to be the way many people start their search. 

One of my clients, a senior programmer, was unemployed 18 months before meeting with me. (She’d been downsized after 25 years at a company that had been acquired.) She said, “Do NOT tell me to network. It does not work.” Really? Hmmm. How are you going about it? Why she asked people, “Hey, know anyone who’s hiring?” Yep, began emails this way, sending out a poorly done resume with each one. And when meeting with friends, her opening line was the “know anyone” line. 

So, for 18 months, her network did not work. 

What we did: First revamped all communication pieces - resume, cover letter, email format, etc. Next, identified all of her contacts. (Think BIG people.) Then, we created a sound bite that could be quickly revamped for emails, in-person meetings, and even her bowling league. (For more tips on how to structure yours: http://www.knocks.com/Personal_Branding_Sound_Bite.html.) My client took action.

Guess what? Within three weeks she had a new job at a higher level, project management, despite it being summer and one of the weeks Fourth of July. 

How did this happen? Why one of the people on her bowling league said, “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to work at X company? My son works there!” So, my client gave her friend the new resume, her friend passed it on, and my client landed her dream gig. This person had been in her network the whole time! 

Steve, a six-figure commercial lender (and one of my clients), has landed his last four positions using his network - maintaining it throughout his career. Each position was at a higher level - in title, compensation, perks, etc.

George created his last two positions where no position had been before - one as a marketing director. He made the connection at one of my live Rock Your Network(R) events. His most recent position he created by remaining connected with those he met. 

Lisa, a human resources manager who had recently relocated, also landed her most recent position through networking - despite having no local network (or so she thought). She too attended one of my Rock Your Network(R) events and made several connections. Yes, she followed up (like others have mentioned). She was most amazed by how warm people were and by how much they wanted to help. 

Can the internet be used for networking? Heck yes! Again, it must be done right. Asking for favors with zero connection is not networking. It’s begging. Networking is about relationships - building them and maintaining them.

Margaret, working in DC politics, wanted a major career change. She jumped on FaceBook and reconnected with some friends from high school. One of them had her exact dream job with her dream company. She learned more about the position and her friend got her an interview. 

Networking DOES work - offline or on. The important thing to remember is that it is a two-way street. Build and maintain the relationship. 

Can they be revived after being dormant for years? Yes! Yesterday I got a call from a former co-worker. It had been 10 years since I had heard from her. She called with an opportunity, not begging for a job. She called to reconnect. She called to ask for help with her husband’s company who is experiencing a downsizing - and she wants to put me in touch with their HR team. Now that is the right way to go about reconnecting. 

A wrong way? Got a call last week from another former co-worker. He wants a change. What names could I give him? Who do I know in the X field? Hmmm. I had not talked this person in several years and the first thing he wants are my connections. 

See the diff? 

Challenge: Take a look at how you’ve been networking. Really look. And be honest with yourself. Have you been begging or building?

By Wendy Terwelp

 

Comments

[Richard Millington]

Networking should be called "being a nice person".

It would remove all the cynicism connected with the concept. A

ll you do, is just be a nice person, help people when you can, and everything else will follow naturally.

[Jacob Share]

Great post by Jason with a great title to get our motors running. Of course networking does work but it's just one part of a strategy and not the be-all end all.

By the way, the link to Jason's article is broken. If you look at the link value, you'll see why right away.

[Heena]

I was reading this and decided it works so well with one of my recent posts at http://blog.campus-connect.com. its just a consolidated form of data across the web.

[frank snow]

Networking doewn't work. Again and again, studies show that networking only works for ~%5 of the people out there, and of those 5 of a hundred, it only works well for 1 or two of those. Like the bunk from the 12-steppers and positive thinkers, just because something is repeated over and over again by so called experts doesn't make it true.