Most people don't have a networking plan and part of the difficulty with a networking is that it can get pushed off your priority list if you don't make time for it. You can easily spend hours and hours finding and meeting new people. But, if you don't stay in touch with them or don't do anything with what you learn, it's all a waste of time. That's why we recommend that you put together a networking plan so you know what you need to do everyday to reach your networking and career goals.
Here is a great networking plan that should take you no longer than 15-20 minutes each day to complete.
Day 1: Write down your goals.
Day 2: Create a networking action plan.
- The specific career focus that I want to investigate is? o In the next 3 years, my short-term career goal is?
- In the next 5-10 years, my long-term career goal is?
-What is working in my network?
-What is not working in my network? Where am I overinvested and underinvested in my current network?
-Given my career goals, what kinds of people should be in my network?
Day 4: Find people for informational interviews.
Set up certain times each week that you are free to meet with people in your network. For example, every Wednesday at lunch or every Monday after work.
Day 6: Make a list of people you have lost touch with.
Sometimes it feels like there is not enough time in a day to stay involved in the lives of our family and friends. Make a list today of all the friends and family members that you would like to catch up with.
Find people in your network that you want to learn more about. They may not have your dream job but could refer you to someone else who does. Follow up with people you met in the past at professional association meetings, classes and previous jobs. Get referrals from friends, family or contacts you can identify online.
Day 5: Block off time in your calendar each week to network.
Day 9: Write out the questions you will ask during the informational interviews.
After doing research about who you will be meeting with, make a list of all the questions you would like to ask them. Some great questions are: What is your typical day like? How did you get your job and how do you recommend someone like me get into your field? How is the economy affecting your industry? What do you like most about the company you work for? Do you know of other people who I might talk to who have similar jobs?
Save a document with these questions online so that you always have it handy to reference or print.
This month, each person that you talk to and each event you attend should be targeted. Ask yourself these questions.
Did you know that you are 95% more likely to achieve your goal if it is written down? If you go through the next 30 days with no clear goal in mind, you won't be able to achieve anything.
Day 3: Tell someone.
Don't do this alone. You need a community. Tell someone you know and trust so that they can hold you accountable to your networking plan. If you need a community, join our Love Your Work and Life Ladies Facebook group.
Day 7: Make a 2X2 list (or a 4X4 list if you are very determined!) and contact these people.
Make a networking plan to meet with 2 people that you already know and 2 people that you don't know. Call or email these people to see if they would be interested in meeting with you over the next few weeks. Remember that you don't have to meet these people in person, you can always practice your interview skills over the phone also.
Day 8: Do research on the people you don't know.
To make sure that you make a great impression and get the most out of the informational interviews, make sure you research their industry, their company and their background. and Google are very useful tools for this. Remember, the goal of this meeting is to get a referral to speak with someone else, so you must be as knowledgeable as possible and put your best foot forward even though this isn't a real job interview. You never know who they might know and be able to refer you to!
You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.