I have been teaching a professional development class for 20 years at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). The class includes networking how-to’s, and SIPA is a graduate school (so most students come in with several years of work experience) and is comprised of students from all over the world.
When I get to the networking portion of the class, I ask this experienced and international group to raise their hand, if they know of someone who only gets in touch when that person needs something. Inevitably, almost all hands are raised, and people recount very similar stories of that annoying networking person who clearly doesn’t want a genuine relationship and is only out for themselves.
Can you relate? Do you want to be that person? Probably not, and yet too many professionals only reach out to their connections when they need something – a job search lead, a professional introduction, business information, etc.
Don’t be that annoying networking person. Reach out when you don’t need anything. And, if you’re in the middle of a job search and think you don’t have time to properly rekindle the relationship, you actually do because it can be done very quickly and easily.
One of the very first “homework” assignments I give my coaching clients is to rekindle connections in their community. At the start of a job search or a promotion campaign or whatever your final career goal is, most of the work you do will be on yourself, in your own time. Networking with others comes later.
Therefore, by reaching out right at the start of your job search, promotion campaign, etc., you ensure that when you do need something, your community is established and ready to receive you. You avoid being that annoying networking person. You prime the pump to have meaningful and helpful conversations.
Helping my clients avoid common mistakes, like this networking minefield, is one of my key roles as their coach. You too can sidestep avoidable mistakes and focus on what really will get you hired. Check out all your career coaching options HERE from $0 on up.
