How do I build a network from nothing?
Networking has an unpleasant reputation because most people are taught to do it badly. Done properly it is a series of specific conversations, not a room full of business cards.
- Session length
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Matched on
- Your field
Three things worth knowing.
Ask for information, not for a job. A specific question about somebody's work gets answered; a general request for help usually does not.
Be specific about why you approached this person. Anything that reads as a mass message is treated as one.
Follow up once with what you did as a result. That single message is what turns a conversation into a relationship.
A sequence that works.
- 01
List twenty people
People doing work you want to understand. Loose connections count, and often count most.
- 02
Send a short, specific message
Three lines: who you are, the specific thing you want to understand, fifteen minutes.
- 03
Have a real conversation
Prepare three questions. Take notes. Do not pitch.
- 04
Close the loop
Tell them what you did with their advice. Almost nobody does this, which is why it works.
What to avoid.
Copy-pasting the same message to fifty people
Asking for a job in the first message
Only reaching out when you need something
Talking through the meeting instead of listening
The things people ask first.
What if nobody replies?
Most will not, and that is the normal rate. A handful of replies from twenty messages is a good week.
Is a mentoring session a good way to start?
Yes. A booked 30-minute session removes the awkwardness of the cold approach entirely.
How do I keep a network alive?
Two or three useful messages a year to people who mattered. It does not need to be more.
Get this answered for your situation.
A mentor who does the job you are aiming at can tell you which of this applies to you.