From the course: Digital Networking Strategies

Connect with industry peers

From the course: Digital Networking Strategies

Connect with industry peers

- Your peers can provide market insight, valuable information on specific companies, and even direct referrals. Learning how to find, identify, and connect with new industry peers is one of the most profitable skills to have as you build your career. Networking with your peers is one of those high-stress, high-reward situations. It may seem intimidating, especially if you're somewhat new to the field. Every one of us has had that pounding heartbeat and sweaty palms that comes with approaching someone new when you know you have a lot riding on that conversation. Getting past your initial fears and mastering that skill could be the breakthrough your career needs, though. Your peers are a rich source of industry insight, giving specific views into individual companies, and even lucrative referrals, so it's well worth your time to cultivate new connections on an ongoing basis. There are a few ways you could approach networking in your industry. The first approach is to reach out to someone at your current professional level who's already doing the job that you're interested in. Maybe they're working for a company that you'd like to work for, or they've tapped into an industry you'd like to break into. Those folks can tell you how to get in the door. They could give you tips about who to talk to, what their company or industry looks for in talent, what to expect from the hiring process, or even a referral or recommendation. Another approach might be to contact key decision-makers like departmental directors or VPs. These people may be able to give you an answer as to when new positions will arise, and any current open positions that could be a good fit for you. These connections can simply get to know you and keep you in mind, securing your place in the pipeline for future opportunities. The tricky part is finding and connecting with these high-level decision-makers in the first place. You can use a variety of different digital mediums, but LinkedIn is probably the best place to identify the key people who you'd benefit from connecting with. As much of a gold mine as LinkedIn could be, you never want to put all of your eggs in one basket. On top of LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram are amazing tools that can help you understand who you're dealing with as a person. It's always helpful to gain some perspective on what your future contact is interested in, and what commonalities you may share. Have some fun here, and don't be afraid to play detective. And since Facebook's a site that caters to real life, family, and friends, instead of virtual connections, it's the perfect vehicle to help you identify mutual contacts who could possibly make an introduction. Once you have a general idea of who this person is that you want to network with, you could send an email, or message via Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, but I recommend heading back over to LinkedIn to warm up your future contact. What I mean by warm up is let them know that you exist. Give them an opportunity to get a little familiar with you on their own time. LinkedIn is the perfect place to do this, because it makes it clear that you're contacting them in a professional capacity, and not a social capacity. It also tends to be easier to make an impression on someone through LinkedIn compared to other more saturated social media platforms. Unlike most social media channels, when the average person makes a post on LinkedIn, the response is typically limited to those who are actually interested in the topic at hand. Chances are there won't be hundreds of likes and dozens of comments like, "Oh, your outfit's to die for" and, "Love you lots" clogging up your pathway to direct communication. So when you hit that Like button you've got a great shot at being noticed instead of getting lost in the fray. When you leave an insightful comment, your target is even more likely to take a peek at your LinkedIn profile. And other people who see your comment may do the same, so now you're driving even more traffic to your profile. Now that you've liked or commented on a couple of your target's post, go ahead and reach out, making sure to mention that you appreciate their content. And in the case that your target isn't super active on LinkedIn, at least you've already done your homework through those other social networks, so you'll be armed with additional context. Mention anything you two may have in common, and then ask for a brief 10-minute conversation. Bonus points if you suggest a video chat, using tools like FaceTime, Zoom, Skype or Google Chat. Seeing each other's face will make the conversation a bit more personal and helps create a quicker bond. Before you hop on that call, though, I'd recommend taking a peek at the company blog or any other digital platforms that your target's employer uses. It's a great way to find out about big projects or key problems that the company is looking to solve. You may have some perspective or past experience to share, turning the call into a mutually beneficial situation. This can also help you relieve some of the stress and anxiety that you may feel when reaching out to someone that you don't know very well, because you aren't just asking for their help, you're offering help of your own, too. According to LinkedIn, one in eight cold emails receive a response. But if you've warmed up your target and you highlight a shared characteristic or experience in your messaging, that one in eight chance could become far better. With this process in mind, play the numbers and reach out to a variety of new contacts in order to land those all-important conversations. You can do it and have fun in the process. I'm rootin for ya.

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