7 lessons my job search has taught me about networking

Throughout my career in consulting and my MBA at Haas, I learned a lot about networking. I learned general things like the value of networking in business and career development.  I learned specific skills like when it is appropriate to follow up and how to make that follow up successful.  But my post-MBA job search provided a crash course in effective networking.  As a good networker, I want to share.  


Here are the 7 most important lessons that my job search has taught me about networking:

1. It's not like dating - I disagree with the experts that compare networking to dating.  Networking should be much less stressful than dating with much lower stakes.  A good networker only needs 5-15 minutes of a contact's time.  Time may be money and these are very busy people who are often doing you a favor but remember, you are looking for a connection, a lead or an idea.  You are not looking for a lifelong commitment or a million dollar investment. At most, you are looking for an opportunity to prove yourself.  Which brings me to the next lesson...
2. People want to help (if you prove to them you are qualified) - I have continually been surprised by strangers' willingness to open up their LinkedIn 'rolodexes' to help me and send requests on my behalf.  The key, I've found, is showing your contacts how qualified and competent you are.  People love to connect highly qualified people and appreciate when those people are referred to them.
3. You still need to ask for help - Getting some time to meet with your connection is only step 1.  Don't expect them to listen to your story and automatically know how to help you or even what help you need. Don't hesitate to suggest possible ways they could help you and end every meeting and follow up email with a summary of what they agreed to do to help you.
4. But don't expect them to do the work for you - No matter how helpful your connections wants to be, they are busy and do not know as well as you do what you need.  From coming prepared with a list of target companies and job titles to offering to compose drafts of the emails they offer to send out, it is your job to make it as easy as possible for them to help you.
5. People appreciate a "no thanks" - Some networking experts say that you should accept every networking opportunity and not limit yourself.  You never know where a connection will end up.  This adage may be true but in practice, it makes you look unfocused and ends up wasting your connection's time (as well as your own).  Don't assume that people will be offended by you politely saying that perhaps that contact would not be the right fit at the current time.  Nobody wants to waste the time of their colleagues and having some idea of who can help you shows professional maturity.
6. Check before you connect - A large portion of networking is finding out if you know anyone who can help your contact.  Be careful with this part.  As we learned in lesson 2, most people do genuinely like to help but they are busy. Sending a quick email to confirm that the person has the bandwidth for this connection (and setting the expectation with your contact that you will be doing so) is always greatly appreciated.
7. It's probably not too late to reconnect - When I began my job search, I assumed that if I had not spoken to someone in the past few months, it would seem odd to contact him or her.  I have contacted and been contacted by many people I worked with in consulting and volunteer work years ago.  People understand that life is busy and that even the best networkers fall out of touch.  So go ahead and reconnect, it probably isn't too late.

What lessons have you learned about networking through your job search?

Why I Didn't Post: Question about Weekly 3 Links posts

Some of you may have been wondering why this blog does not have a Weekly 3 post up every week.  The answer is short.
When I started this blog, I did not want to write posts just to post.  I don't want to waste your time with blog posts that do not add thought-provoking insight about CSR, social entrepreneurship and social impact.  I set a high bar for my posts and I enjoy reading blogs that have similar standards.

So, if I don't find articles that ask and answer important questions about pressing issues, I don't post a Weekly 3.  I hope you appreciate my posts and maybe this could be a trend with even more bloggers.

To avoid confusion, I am renaming the "Weekly 3 Links" posts to "3 Articles on."

What do you think?

Weekly 3: Topic - 'Buying' Earth Day

• Earth Day, at the Mall - Marc Gunther explores how Earth Day has become a "shopping holiday" and how some  companies are doing it right.
• The Perils of 'Green Watching' - Wood Turner of Greenbiz.com shows the challenges of vetting Earth Day Green claims.
• A Free Market Earth Day List - Jeff Seigel from Triple Pundit explores how to encourage business strategies that create real positive environmental impact.

What do you think?

Keep your behind the scenes visionary experience coming!

I've heard some great feedback from those of you with experience working in the front lines with visionary.  Keep your input coming and look for my summary post in the next week!

• How did you steer your visionary leader to or away from trouble?
• What do you wish you knew then?

Have you ever worked for a "visionary" putting his/her ideas into practice?

"The people behind the visionaries are the ones who truly change the world."

Have you ever worked for a "visionary" putting his/her ideas into practice? It's both exhilarating and challenging.  We have all heard stories about visionaries who are changing the world through CSR and sustainability but you never hear the story of the people behind the visionary who are actually implementing the change.  

Did any of you work for a revolutionary tech wiz, a VC tycoon, public health prophet or a person whose genius can transform CSR? If you have this experience and can share some advice, I'd love to hear from you.

Weekly 3: Topic - What's New at the Bottom of the Pyramid

As companies begin to invest again, the Corporate Social Responsibility community has been buzzing about how to harness the power of the bottom of the pyramid and bring positive social change. Here are three thought provoking articles to give you insight on current BOP issues.

• The Bottom of the Pyramid: A Disruptive Force to be Reckoned With? - Mark Beckford shows how BOP strategies force companies to toward innovation.
• Selling water to the global poor - Marc Gunther looks at how for-profit companies, like The Water Initiative, can bring water (and jobs) to the BOP.
• Multiple Facets of the Pyramid: Defining the BoP - NextBillion's Bloggers tackle how to identify the characteristics of BOP markets. Hint: It's not just low income level.

What do you think?

Weekly 3: Topic - CSR and Social Media

• Lessons from Nestlé on How to Handle CSR and Social Media - Associates from BSR give their advice on how to avoid CSR pitfalls in Social Media
• Social Media CSR Tips for Small Businesses - David Coethica shows how social media provides an effective way for small businesses to do good
• Opportunities to make business better - Straight from the WSJ: There are two revolutions going on in business: Social Media and Corporate Social Responsibility.  This posting explores how they can work together.