[Part 2: Networking for students] Who to network with? 3 things to look out for

And 1 game-changing tip

After knowing why you should network in Part 1, the next question would be “Who do I network with?” Someone in the role you want to pivot to seems to be the obvious reason, but in this blog post, I want to dive deeper: Age range, Internet presence, and Hobbies. Might sound a bit too much for networking, but you will see how these factors come into play. I also put the stars ⭐ to indicate how important this factor is in finding your networking match.

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1. Similarity ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We have a strong tendency to bond and support people similar to us. That’s why affinity groups and clubs exist, and that’s why you are more likely to accept a friend request on Facebook if it shares lots of common friends. Bad news is that you need to go find people who are more or less similar to you. Good news is that, those similarities can look very different (the irony in this sentence 😅). It can be college, major, transition from one major to another, struggles as international students, sport clubs, and the list goes on. I once networked through the hobby of gardening.

Source

The more specific the similarities, the more you both will bond, and the more natural the conversation becomes. The best networking call I have had was with an alumnus from my college, learning the same majors, and was an international student. I did not have to explain my difficulties in getting a work visa, or homesickness, because he gets it, and it takes a lot of awkwardness out of the way. We kept in touch for a long time afterward.

By the way, since you are reading my blogs, I consider that as our similarity in impeccable taste. Feel free to connect with me anytime ;)

2. Distance in experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐

   

   You want to talk with someone at 2 when you are at 0 (clueless), instead of someone at 10 (expert). Courtesy of Mở & Akwaaba, Tùng

This lesson, I learned the hard way. When I started out, I talked with Product Manager with 6 years of experience, even some with 10+ years, and there was something lost in translation. I cannot apply their advice in my situation, as their experiences are too far ahead, and they forgot what it was like to apply for jobs after graduation. Furthermore, they did not relate to my current situation. Yes, they understood how hard it was to get a job, but they did not do it in Covid time, and when AI was not threatening to take your job.

Networking with people who are 2 steps ahead of you is the best because they are just far enough to give you actionable, salient advice, and understand the current economy, industry, and opportunities. If you are a student, then fresh grads to people with 2 years of experience are perfect.

That is not to say that you should not network with more experienced people (always say Yes to opportunities)! Just make sure to frame your questions to make it relevant to your current situation (e.g. “If you can give advice to your younger self, what would it be?”)

3. Space to help ⭐⭐⭐

A mindset that I have is that no one owes me a talk, my messages will not be replied to, and that’s okay. If the person does not reply to my email/messages the first time, I usually follow up 2 more times, so in total 3 times. I actually forgot to reply to a student, twice, but I redeemed myself and we connected the third time she reached out. But if there is no news after the 3rd time, I think it is safe to assume that they don’t have space/time right now, and it’s good to respect that.

One small tip I like is to look at their Activities section on LinkedIn. You can tell from there whether a person is active on the site, which can increase the chance that they check their messages and is willing to help out.

4. Timing 🌟🌟🌟

I saved the best for last. I did not learn about this strategy until recently, and it can take your networking game to a new height. Talking with people once, great, twice, awesome. But the best is to build a connection, and let me tell you how.

If you know that the recruiting timeline of a company is in April, reach out to a person you want to talk with from that company in December, and ask for their advice and experiences. Schedule a second call sometimes in February. Tell them this is how you follow their advice, and ask deeper, more detailed questions (e.g. Are there any blockers when you follow their advice?). By the time April rolls around, you have made a good connection, and I am sure they will happily give you a referral, and talk highly of you.

Why this works:

• You make the connection wayyy earlier than everyone else.

• You show that you are proactive (reach out early) and want to improve yourself (work on their advice).

• You are not forcing the relationship. It grows through time and exposure.

It is a fantastic way to build relationships, but it does take more time and effort, and not everyone will have the time to connect several times. But hey, if the first meeting goes well, then why not?

I hope this helps you in finding a person to connect with! But what do you do to reach out, while talking, and after the conversation? Subscribe for part 3, where I will unpack these questions.