We’re onto the last, and hardest, part of the networking workshop: maintaining the relationship. This is the part where most people mess-up when networking. The connections you form with your network are relationships – it needs to be maintained in order for it to be meaningful. It sounds easier than done, but let’s go through some ways we can maintain strong connections.
Ask Questions
If you’re trying to network with someone who is very busy, you might get very short responses. But don’t get discouraged! You can still prolong the relationship with that person by asking the right questions.
The trick here is to not ask questions that you can find the answers to on your own – that would just be wasting your connection’s time. Ask questions that requires some level of expertise on the matter or ask for their opinion. Questions usually guarantee a response, which is another chance to lengthen your conversation with your connection.
Send Updates
If your connection gave you some advice or other contacts to reach out to you, update them on your progress. It’s always nice to hear if their advice was helpful. If the advice isn’t really working, then consult them on what problems you’re running into and how you can move forward. Either way, it gives you more to talk about with your connection.
Share Industry Updates
Go out and find interesting articles in your connection’s industry or field. Send them an email with a brief message containing a summary about the article and how it made you think of them.
Arrange a Coffee Meeting
Ask if it would be okay to grab a quick cup of coffee with your connection if you happen to in the area. The best way to keep in touch is face-to-face and who doesn’t like going to Starbucks? It’ll also give you a chance to thank them for their help in a non-overbearing way.
Holiday Cards
Holiday cards in December are a great way to keep your contacts updated. It’s very common to send holiday cards, so make sure you send a few to your professional network as well as your family and friends.
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Remember, like your personal relationships, your professional relationships also need to be groomed and nurtured in order for it to become a meaningful one. One of the biggest mistakes I see with recent graduates is that they always expect instant results. But in reality, someone you’ve just met isn’t likely to offer you a job right away. They need to get to know you and have confidence in your skills and personality. Don’t waste all the work of searching for good connections just to lose them by not maintaining your relationships!
That concludes the Networking Workshop series! I hope you’re not ready to start building your network. In order to motivate yourself, try following Classy Career Girl’s Networking Challenge. The 4X4 Networking Challenge sets a monthly goal of getting to know 4 people better and meeting 4 new people. Now that you have all the tools on how to network, set goals for yourself and stick to them! And, if you have some extra time left over, then feel free to share your experiences.
-J
Related Posts:
- Networking Workshop: The Prequel
- Networking Workshop: Initial Contact
- Networking Workshop: Informational Interview
