Early in the morning, in the middle of the week, is usually the best time to make networking phone calls.
Don't call on Monday, Friday, lunch hour, or late afternoon if you can help it.
On the telephone, get to the point of your call quickly, which is to:
- Introduce yourself
- Briefly explain why you are calling
- Arrange a meeting
An example of what you might say is:
"This is John Jenkins. Martin Parks from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company tells me that you are the person I should speak with about _______________ (a field of interest, an industry, a company). He suggested that I call to see if we could get together."
Show interest in others. Career experts say the secret is to stop focusing on yourself and take an interest in the other person. Ask questions and get the contacts to talk about themselves and their business experience. This is easier than you might think.
Don't ask for a job. It may force the other person to say no to you. Instead, seek advice. People are likelier to be generous with their time if you ask for their counsel. Don't worry. If you seem qualified for an opening, they will refer you to the right person to set up an interview.
Build relationships. Strangers will not put their reputations on the line for you. Build ties with a new contact before asking for help. Consider sending a personal note to any new contact you meet at an industry event. Then, follow up, perhaps with a helpful article or introduction to someone you know.
Don't be selfish. No matter how desperate you are, remember networking is a two-way street. If you have met with a recruiter, you can always offer to introduce him to the smartest people you know in your industry.
Don't abuse relationships. There is no rule here for how many phone calls are too many. Just try to gauge if you are coming across as always looking for a favor.
Follow through. Nothing can kill a budding relationship faster than not writing a proper thank-you note. In many cases, you can e-mail it, but don't assume the content is any less important than snail mail. If you really want to stand out, send a hand-written thank you note. Keep the other person abreast of how your meeting went with someone with whom he or she referred you.
Maintain your network. Cultivate ties even when you are not jobhunting. Remember, the majority of jobs go unpublished, so you may hear of an exciting opportunity.
