Ask Patrice: “I attend many networking functions, but rarely make any meaningful connections. What are three ways I can create make new professional connections to actually help me find a new opportunity?
1. Approach networking as a numbers game. A 10% response rate is considered good in direct mail marketing.Therefore, when it comes to networking, your goal should be to connect with 10 people in the hopes that one leads to a job or a work/professional opportunity.
2. Set different kinds of networking goals. One of your first networking goals should be to contact 10 people every week on LinkedIn. Hopefully at least five will become actual “connections” and one will lead to card exchange, meeting or new opportunity. Continuing this process for 52 weeks will generate 260 new connections – more than half of your ultimate goal of 500.
You can set other goals like “the 100.” Every month tell 100 people (friends, strangers that you meet, and anyone who will listen) that you are interested in a certain job, industry or company, AND/OR that you are open to working as a freelancer/consultant in XYZ on the side. Be creative in establishing other specific goals for reaching out to others by email, phone, social media and by attending events.
Be aggressive in your outreach. There is no such thing as “too pushy” when it comes to finding new opportunities. Unless someone calls you to say, “please stop calling me” you can and should be proactive and aggressive with your outreach and follow up efforts. Your job is to tell almost everyone you meet (including those you currently work with) about your short-term and long-term career goals.
You never know where a single conversation can lead. Contact former bosses, professors, co-workers, etc. and ask them if they know anyone who does what you want to do.
90% of life is not what happens to us but rather how we respond to it. Life is about attitude. This week change your mindset and attitude about networking and how real people succeed in finding new jobs and professional opportunities. New networking opportunities are all around you – if you just look.