Network to Net Work
The Top Three Things Top Networkers Know
If you’re in the challenging position of job hunting in this market, you’ve probably heard from recruiters or influencers, or me, that you can network your way into your next role. It sounds so simple, and it’s got to beat the tedious horror of applying blind through faceless, oversubscribed online portals; however, it’s easier said than done.
I can certainly vouch for the effectiveness of networking, having leveraged it to win nearly all my work for six years; and having mentored dozens of people to land jobs by promoting their personal brand directly to hiring managers and their connections.
If you’re ready to give it a shot, here’s my best advice for networking.
The Top Three Things Top Networkers Know
Networking isn’t what it used to be, there’s opportunity everywhere.
Forget awkwardly drinking crap wine in a stuffy room full of name-badge-toting suits. If that’s your style, I’m sure those events still exist – knock yourself out! Thankfully for most of us, networking has morphed into basically whatever you want it to be. There’s no end of communities and groups, meeting in-person and online, representing every sector, industry, function and role you can imagine; and probably many you can’t. I suggest you join up and get stuck in. My top recommendations for operators are:
I’d also encourage you to think of every professional interaction, and some personal ones, as a networking opportunity. I’m not suggesting you pitch everyone you meet or beg them for a job, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to tell them what you do for a living; and if you are out of work, your job is at risk or you’re unhappy, put the feelers out.
It is a numbers game, but quality of networking still trumps quantity.
Yes, it will likely take significant time and a lot of conversations to land a decent role. No, that doesn’t mean you should spray people with “give me work” and pray for a job.
I’m sure you’ve had the displeasure of meeting a bore who introduces themselves by their job title and insists on giving you a business card you’ll immediately bin. Don’t be that person; nobody worth working for will hire them. Networking is like dating: it pays to be selective about whom you approach, and the odds of achieving the outcome you want increase greatly when you don’t lead with demanding that outcome.
Identify people who fit your niche target audience e.g. “healthtech scaleup founders looking for a right-hand operator”, find the places or spaces they like to hang out, ask them questions that demonstrate your genuine interest in what they do, give them the opportunity to talk about themselves, then listen carefully to the problems they share. Only when they ask, or they’ve at least had their turn to speak, reveal your own hand; then, if it seems appropriate, present your ideas to help them solve those problems.
The single most important thing is to be remembered for [insert value-add].
The biggest mistake I see people make when networking is being forgettable. If you’re too vague, too vanilla, or your description of what you do doesn’t fit neatly into a box, most people won’t remember. Whether your interaction lasts an hour or a minute, make sure the other person goes away from it with a pithy summary of your:
Value e.g. “seasoned COO helping B2B SaaS companies expand internationally”.
Goal e.g. “meeting British SaaS scaleup founders in the finance industry”.
And, if you’re a pro and want to increase your chances of conversion, your:
Offer e.g. “introducing them to corporate finance CTOs in your network”.
It doesn’t matter if you spend the rest of the time talking about crochet, geopolitics or the meaning of life, provided the person who may be able to help you remembers what you can do, what you’re looking for, and how you can help their connections.
If you’re unsure what your value is or what you’re looking for, you need a career vision.
If you’re sure but you’re struggling to articulate it confidently, you need a hero story.
If you feel awkward or selfish being direct, remind yourself the alternative is that person – or their business, or someone else’s – potentially missing an opportunity to benefit from your skills and experience. Both parties benefit from these interactions.
In The Spirit of Networking…
If you could use some hands-on help to increase the impact of your networking, consider joining the Operate with Purpose community.
Membership includes monthly drop-in sessions to share and solve your problems. Sign up now and I’ll send you an invite to the next session, midday UK time on Thursday 12th December, where you can meet your fellow members. You can also discuss this and other topics with your peers in the members-only chat.
Subscribe as a Founding Operator to get a discounted 1:1 mentoring session with me, which you can use to develop a personalised networking strategy and tactics.