STEP 1 OF 4
Find who you should be talking to
You almost know more people than you think you do.
This step helps you identify the people you should build mutually beneficial relationships with. Some of them will be people you already know (your 1st-degree connections). It’s even more important, though, to reach the people they know (your 2nd-degree connections), because research shows that the people most likely to advance your career sit outside your immediate network.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Make a Networking List of at least 25 people to connect with.
Make a networking list
Before you get started, create a spot to track all of the connections you’re making. A spreadsheet is ideal (like Google Sheets or Excel), but you can also use a plain old sheet of paper and a pen. Here are the basics to track:
- Name
- Company
- Title
- How you know them
- Connection strength
- Notes
- Label
Start with your 1st degree contacts
Open your Networking List and enter the names of people in your current network. These might former co-workers, people you volunteer with, or people in professional or hobby groups. These people know you, and have some sense of your skills, experience, and working style.
In the “Strength” column, mark each contact as either “Warm” or “Lukewarm”, depending on how well you know them.
Then look for 2nd degree contacts in places you’re already in
If you’ve worked at a large organization where you don’t know everyone, look for those who might be able to help.
PROMPT
Here are companies I’ve worked at and the type of work I’m seeking. What types of people from my former workplaces are most likely to be connected to my target job? List probable job titles in priority order.
Paste your Employment Chronology and Target Job Profile
NEXT STEP
- Once your AI assistant has suggested the types of people and job titles to reach out to at your former employers, look up the specific names. For example, if it suggests CFOs, check the company website or LinkedIn to find who holds that role now.
- Add the names to your Networking List, and mark the relationship strength as “Cold” because you don’t know them yet.
Staying in the same chat, now think about groups you are already a part of, where there are people who already know you and trust you.
PROMPT
Here are groups I’m part of. What types of people in these groups are most likely to be connected to my target job. Rank the groups and probable job titles in priority order.
Attach your Unpaid Employment Chronology and list any other groups you belong to: church, volunteer organizations, sports clubs, professional groups, parent groups, hobby groups, etc.
NEXT STEP
- Once your AI assistant has suggested the types of people and job titles to reach out to at these groups, look up specific names on their websites and social media platforms
- Add the names to your Networking List, and mark the relationship strength as “Cold” because you don’t know them yet.
Complete your initial networking list
Once you’ve gone through these exercises, make sure you’ve recorded the names on your networking list and that you’ve filled in the following fields:
- Strength: “Cold” if you don’t know them yet, and “Warm” or “Lukewarm” for contacts you do know.
- Notes: Add a few brief notes on anything you know about what’s important to these people.
No problem if you don’t have 25 connections on your list, yet. In the next step, we’ll mine LinkedIn for more people.