Navigating the Job Market - 4 tips and 7 templates to help you network with confidence
Last month I asked you, the Career Civility community, how I could help you navigate this job market.
The survey asked questions such as: why are you currently looking for a job? what has been the hardest part of searching for a job? what templates do you need? to which the results were as follows…
34% of respondents are looking for a new job because they are unhappy at their current job
Looking to level up in their career came in second at 21% followed by layoffs at 18%
The hardest part of searching for a job was the act of networking with 47% of respondents indicating that networking is tough for them
78% of respondents do not feel confident in their networking skills and 75% of respondents need communication templates to help reach out to recruiters and hiring managers
I hear you loud and clear. I did not understanding the true concept of networking (and the extreme value of building your own personal network) until I went back to get my Masters in Communication.
In my masters program at Northwestern University, I learned why networking is so important, how to create a valuable network, and how to effectively communicate during networking.
The goal of today’s blog post is to help you,
a) become more confident in networking and
b) give you the exact templates to use when networking
4 steps to become more confident networking -
Define your personal brand
There are copious amounts of resources out there on defining your personal brand and my advice is to use the resources available to you!! A personal brand seems silly and eye roll worthy until you define yours and experience the benefits of actually having a personal brand.
Start here – How To Advance Your Career By Communicating Your Personal Brand
2. Create a professional “board of directors”
Some of the BEST advice I’ve ever received is to create a personal “board of directors”. This was actually an assignment I had in my masters program. You know how companies have boards of directors? These boards help guide the direction of the company, make decisions, and oversee the success of the organization.
We need our own personal board of directors. You can have as many as you see fit. Your business partner, your manager, your boss, your colleague, your husband, a parent, a friend – whoever you think will a) be beneficial to your professional success and b) will give your guidance in your career.
And here’s the kicker - you may need someone on your board who is not currently in your circle. That board member is someone you know would be good for your success but is not a resource you currently have access to.
Example, I need more male business advisors on my board. And I need 1:1 access to a 7-figure female founder/entrepreneur. Those are two directors I need to find and start networking with in order to add them to my own personal board of directors.
3. Get out there and start having conversations
Ain’t nothin to it but to do it (and I have templates below to help you do it)
4. Pay it forward
Always, ALWAYS, be thinking about how you can help the other person when you are networking. This is key to reframe networking from “icky” and “self-serving” to productive and helpful for both parties involved. Yes, you may be the one asking for the meeting and their time BUT if you have the mindset of paying it forward while you are having the conversation, you will quickly show your own value in the networking interaction as well.
Go into the conversation thinking “How can I provide value to this person?”, use effective listening skills, and end the time together by asking,
“I’m curious… how would I be able to pay it forward and help you? My network is your network! I’d be happy to help in any way I can”
7 templates to help you network (save these!!) -
When asking for a networking meeting with someone you don’t know -
Try to personalize it as much as possible, use relevant personal connections, keep it short and appreciative
Subject - would you be open to connecting?
Body -
“Hi xx, we have not yet been introduced and I am taking a leap of faith in sending this message.
I see we have some parallels in terms of the work we are doing/have done. Specifically related to [insert mutual connections here] work. I am looking to learn more about [insert what you are looking for] and thought you may be a good resource to meet with.
In return, I’m here to support you however I can too - my network is your network!
Would you have time to connect sometime later this month?
Appreciate it in advance!”
And because people are busy… here is a follow up email -
“Hey xx, did you catch my last email? I know work is busy (and life is even busier). Would next week work to meet? If you don’t have time to meet right now, that is ok too!
All my best,”
When reaching out to a recruiter -
“Hi xx! I just applied for [insert role here] role you are hiring for. With my experience in [insert relevant experience here] my goal is to chat more about how I could be an asset to your team if you think my candidacy warrants a further conversation!”
When reaching out to a hiring manager -
“Hi xx! I'm not sure if you're the person hiring for this role but I just applied for the [insert role here]. If you are, my goal with this message is to chat more about how I could be an asset to your team if you think my candidacy warrants a further conversation!”
When checking in on the status of your application/interview -
“Hey xx, I'm sure you are busy so I appreciate your time in advance. I'm wondering if you have an update on next steps or a potential timeline for this position?
I'm currently in two other interview processes but want to prioritize this one.
Thanks for your insight!”
When in an active networking conversation -
“I’m curious… how would I be able to pay it forward and help you? My network is your network! I’d be happy to help in any way I can”
When paying it forward -
Hey xx! I'd like to introduce you to xx. xx and I were catching up last week and they mentioned [insert relevant context here]. Low and behold, we have mutual connections! I know it's been a minute since we have caught up, but I am very much in the business of helping connect good people with talent resources. I thought you both may benefit from connecting. I'll let you two take it from here!
When asking for a networking conversation with someone you are acquainted with (but not close to) -
Subject - connect sometime?
Body -
“Hey xx!
My name is Jenna Rogers (long time fan, first time emailer ). We ran in similar circles back in the [insert mutual connection here] days.
Since being introduced to your work, I've long been interested in your work (and your journey as a working mom too!) and am finally reaching out to you to:
1. To connect with another female entrepreneur
2. Potentially explore your services
Full transparency, I am still in corporate but the 5 year goal is to take the leap into entrepreneurship full time and it'd be great to network with other women who have done this and potentially explore how I could create a solid foundation now in terms of my services!
Respecting your time + busy schedule, what are your thoughts on connecting sometime this month?!
Chat soon!”
There are so many instances where effective communication is needed in order to expand your network and this is only the beginning. Career Civility is here to help you build your communication template toolbox! Respond back and let me know what other situations you may need templates and scripts for!
