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Networking Techniques via Email
In this day and age, individuals can be intimidated about asking for help in finding a job and
communicating via email often feels like a safer place start to the process.
Below are two articles on how to use email to start networking, with your intent to be:
getting in front of people that are not in your immediate sphere of contacts
asking others to help you network for a job
Composing an effective Networking email
by Kelly J. Brown
http://www.syracuse.com/job-advice/index.ssf/2012/02/post_5.html
If you decided to turn over a new leaf in 2012 and take the job advice bloggers' advice to start
networking, your first hurdle will be to actually reach out to a potential contact. I recommend
reaching out to new contacts via email, rather than a phone call, because it gives you the
chance to really craft your message, but that blinking cursor in the body of your email can be
quite intimidating! Follow this checklist to make sure your message is on point.
-Keep it short!
A networking email should not be your life story (more what you should include in the next
steps) and should only consist of a few sentences. If I received an email that was paragraph
upon paragraph, I'm less inclined to read the whole thing. Instead, get right to the point.
-Establish a connection immediately: Use the subject line.
The first place to do this is in the subject line. Did you and your contact attend the same
college? If so, make sure you include the name of the school in your subject line. Were you
referred to this person by a mutual friend? Put the name of that person in the subject line.
-Reinforce the connection in your first line or two and give a quick introduction of who you
are.
Let's use the mutual friend example: Your first line or two should mention how you know the
person you both know, then give a short introduction of who you are (your current position and
company, your year in school and major, your professional area of interest). This should not be
a pitch, nor should you attach your resume to this email. Both of those actions may be
perceived as presumptuous and will rub your contact the wrong way!
-Get right to the point.
A good networking email only asks for advice. As I stated before, you are not pitching yourself
and you shouldn't be asking about job leads. The pure fact that you're reaching out is indicative
that you're probably on the hunt for your next job. Ask only for advice and/or a few minutes of
a contact's time. You might also mention that you have a few questions about the company or
what the person's job is like. You could give a couple examples of those questions, but again, be
brief.