Networking can be a hard game to play – especially when you’re new to the playing field and you’re receiving mixed advice from everyone you encounter. Add in the stress of trying to land the perfect job, and your confidence can go out the window! Luckily for you career-driven collegiettes, Her Campus talked to career experts in order to find out some of the biggest networking mistakes that collegiettes are making and how to fix them.
Mistake #1: Forgetting to follow up
Sure, it may seem like your conversation with your professional contact at last week’s networking event was unforgettable, but you have to keep in mind that you were just one of the dozens of people that he or she spoke with that day. Forgetting to send a follow-up note not only makes you even more forgettable, but at times it can come off as rude and ungrateful on the off chance that he or she does remember you.
How to fix it: Send a personalized follow-up note
A handwritten note is always a nice gesture! If you aren’t able to mail a note, an email will work just as well. Just be sure to verbally thank the person for taking to time to meet with you. It’s often helpful to distinguish something unique that you discussed, whether it was a common internship or a mutual professional contact, to help the person remember who you are. For more follow-up tips, check out this HC article on how to follow up after a networking event.
Mistake #2: Reaching too high
While it would be great to have Someone Important on your side, like the CEO of a company you want to work for or the editor-in-chief of your favorite newspaper, this isn’t always practical (or possible). These high figures are often too busy to attend most networking events or even to answer every email from everyone hoping to make a connection with them.
How to fix it: Start out small and utilize networking groups
Start out by reaching out to someone at a lower-level position. Often these people will have more in common with you than the higher-ups anyway, and they’ll be more interested in helping you out because they were recently in your shoes. Also, most career fields have networking groups for students that make meeting people in your future field a breeze. A few examples include:
- Public Relations Student Society of America
- Ed2010 (for magazine journalists)
- Technology Students Association
- American Academy of Physician Assistants
- Business Professionals of America
Mistake #3: Over-using the power of technology
While it can be a lot easier to reach out to a potential network over email or LinkedIn, this method can also be less personal, which makes it a lot easier for people to blow you off or read your tone the wrong way.
How to Fix it: Meet up in person
Talking to someone in person rather than through an email thread can make it a lot easier for networking contacts to become familiar with you and what you’re all about. An in-person conversation also allows for off-track conversations about common interests, which is what will make you stand out!
Mistake #4: Trying to network with everyone
Quality is better than quantity when it comes to networking! “I don’t recommend blindly sending out resumes and cover letters,” says Ellen Gordon Reeves, author of the book Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job. “It might seem easier, but it’s actually less efficient. For better and more gratifying results, be strategic and intentional.”
How to Fix it: Focus on people with which you have commonalities
Seek out people who are alumni from your school or who interned at the same company as you. You’d be surprised at just how many people are out there! Once you find some common ground, figuring out what to talk about will be a breeze.
Lesley Mitler, president of career coaching service Priority Candidates, Inc., recommends using online resources to find the appropriate people to reach out to. “I suggest using LinkedIn.com/alumni and applying the appropriate filters to identify alums that work in your field or work for companies that you are interested in,” she says.
Now that you’ve learned the mistakes that you’ve been making, all you have to do is make these easy changes to become a networking queen. Be sure to let us know about your networking success stories in the comments!