Guest Post: Follow-up Is An Art: How To Network Persistently Without Pestering by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
You meet someone from the company where you always wanted to work – at a career fair, at an on-campus info session, at a party even. Now what? Maybe they don’t have a job right now. Maybe you aren’t available right now (e.g., still in school till May of next year).
Timing is everything. Matching candidates to jobs is as much finding the right candidate as it is finding him or her at the right time. If you are a great candidate but there is no job, there is no match. Maybe the company will remember you when a job arises, maybe not. Maybe the company will ask about you when you’re available, maybe they’ll forget by then.
How do you persist without pestering? Don’t make every communication a check-in about jobs. Turn the tables, and focus on helping your contacts. It takes the pressure off of making the perfect pitch (you’re no longer pitching!). Yet, it yields enormous benefits of keeping yourself out there and building a reputation as someone who is helpful and motivated.
Say thank you. Thank them for that call, meeting, or email correspondence;
Give a results update. If they gave you advice, tell them what happened;
Send an article. Put a Google Alert on your dream companies so you are up-to-date;
Congratulate. If you hear good news about them or their company, point it out;
Make a referral. If you know someone good, pass that on;
Make a match. If they are a foodie and you try a good restaurant, pass that on;
Wish holiday greetings. Happy New Year is a perfect annual follow-up opportunity;
Solve a business problem. Offer an intelligent or creative idea.
When it comes to networking, people tend to obsess over the approach – how do I meet people, how do I get contact info. But the key is the follow-up. Anyone can get that first contact, but not everyone can build lasting relationships. Practice the follow-up tips above, and you will build a solid network over time. You will be naturally plugged into that hidden job market and stay front of mind when the right job arises. Timing is everything.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine is a co-founder of SixFigureStart www.sixfigurestart.com, a career coaching firm. A former recruiter in both retained executive search and corporate HR, Caroline has recruited for Accenture, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Citibank, Disney ABC, Pfizer, Time Inc and others. Contact Caroline at 212-372-0277 or caroline@sixfigurestart.com
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