If networking for your next role is making you feel discouraged af, read this
Everyone knows that you are way more likely to find your next job through networking, referrals, and warm intro’s than through cold applications on LinkedIn…
AND most people find this kind of networking awkward, sales-y, and generally soul-sucking.
I find that one of the reasons that high achievers, in particular, can get discouraged by networking is that:
We’re used to having a high success rate in whatever we do.
We’re used to seeing linear progress, which assures us that we’re on the right track, even if we’re not at the end point yet.
But networking (and sales in general) can often have the opposite structure:
You have quite a high failure rate, even if you’re doing things right.
You don’t necessarily see linear progress, even if you’re on the right track — you can get a ton of no’s in a row and then suddenly get a helpful connection from a random source.
So here are 3 things I recommend to people to help them maintain hope, optimism, drive, and momentum through all this networking.
Because chances are your brain isn’t going to auto-generate those feelings in the face of failure and randomness.
1: Track (and celebrate) your input metrics as well as your output metrics
# of messages sent
# of conversations had
# of networking events gone to
# of new techniques tried
Track it all and give yourself HUGE credit for it.
I mean it! I want to see you throwing a 30 second dance party at your desk over all of your input metrics :)
2: Lean on community and camaraderie
It can be easy to feel like you’re going at it alone and everyone else has it figured out.
But I guarantee that you are not the only person in this situation.
Find other people who are also looking for jobs right now — among your friends, among alumni groups, or even through local co-working spaces.
Get together with a few of them and do a job searching co-working session.
Tell each other what you’re looking for and then do a 20 minute “I’ll search my LinkedIn network for you while you search your LinkedIn network for me” session.
Make a pact that you’ll all go do something fun together after you’ve hit your 100th reach-out.
This process is a grind. Find ways to do it together and make it fun.
3: Come talk to me
Want to craft your elevator pitch?
Or brainstorm how to describe what you’re looking for in a way that’s clear and precise without closing any doors?
Or figure out your agenda for that mentor coffee chat on your calendar?
Come do a no-strings-attached coffee chat with me.
It’s not a sales call. It’s just an opportunity for us to discuss whatever’s on your mind, and I’ll be as helpful as I can be.
And if you want structured support throughout your entire job search process…
From gaining clarity on what you want to do next…
To strategizing about how to maximize your network and handle all these networking and coffee chat and interview conversations as effectively as possible…
To maintaining resilience and optimism and momentum even in the tough moments…
Then let’s talk about working together in a full coaching engagement.
What my clients have to say…
“I was worried the advice I’d be getting would be very general or something that I could just have Googled or seen on Twitter.
But that quickly fell away.
The advice, the connection, the unique frameworks and analogies Pooja has were like nothing I've ever seen before, outside of her social media.”
—Client | VP at Major Financial Institution
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