Networking Hack …Find Loose Ties!

HERE IS THE QUESTION

Did you know that 85% of jobs are filled through networking, but only 32% of professionals reach out to their network for that next job.

WHAT?!?!?!?!

This is a HUGE disconnect and a LOST opportunity!!! (I hate lost opportunities.) LOOSE TIES fill the gap.

BUT WHAT ARE LOOSE TIES?

They are people you don’t know very well, but who actually have a vested interest in helping you. Maybe you went to the same college, have mutual friends, or are alumni of the same company. There can be all sorts of loose commonalities that tie people together.

TRUE STORY
🔎 A client was interested in a position at a particular startup. She went onto LinkedIn and searched for loose ties. She found an alumnus of her university who was an engineer at the target company.

BINGO.

She didn't know the alum and was not applying for an engineering role, but reached out on LinkedIn. The alum quickly offered both a referral and to speak live about the company culture.

🔎 After that conversation, my client submitted her application. Within 12 hours she had been invited to interview.

🔎 After she was given the name of who would be interviewing her, it was time to look for loose ties again. She searched LinkedIn and found a mutual acquaintance that proved to be helpful for interview prep.

LOOSE TIES WERE THE KEY TO HER SUCCESS

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTIONS

If networking is so key, then why do so many of us NOT network?

POSSIBLE ANSWER
Blasting your business to your network does feel overwhelming and super vulnerable to most of us. I hear clients say all the time

It’s bad enough I’m out of work. Now I have to tell everyone?

NETWORKING HACK

With loose ties, you DO NOT BLAST. Instead target a handful of people with specific requests.

Looking for LOOSE TIES is AN EASY NETWORKING TASK. Search your LinkedIn network for people you know in 1st and 2nd connections. Look at the networks from your college, friends network, prior companies, and target companies. Once you find them,

✴ Plan what to say.

✴ Target the ask for 1 or 2 people.

✴ Ask for something specific.