The 5-Step Plan to Landing Your Next Job

Your network — a group of industry diverse professionals with unique experiences — exists for more than flagging your resume to HR. Tapping into this community to learn about career trajectories (rather than just asking for job application help) can remove the pressure of networking. When you shift the focus away from applying for a job and towards researching different career paths, you might find an interest you didn’t know was there.

We’ve crafted an easy-to-tackle 5 part plan that can help you leverage that valuable networking time as a way to discover new opportunities.

Identify your prospects

Using your college alumni network, LinkedIn, or referrals from friends, make a list of 10-20 people who work in industries or jobs that are either interesting to you or are completely unfamiliar to you — a mix of the two is best! Aim for professionals who are 3-5 years further along in their professional journey than you are. People in mid-level positions may be more accessible and responsive than individuals already at the top of their game.

Send your first note

Don’t know how to break the ice? Check out the template below:

“Hi (Name) - my name is Annie and I’m also an alumni of (School/Program). You’ve had a really interesting path to your (Current role) at (Company). I would love to spend 15 minutes on the phone learning more about what you do. Please let me know if any of the times I’ve listed below work for you and I can follow up with a calendar invitation. Thank you in advance!”

Of course, feel free to modify this as you see fit, but here’s what’s key: It’s short, sweet, and to the point. The email is about the other person, not you — and you’ve made it really easy for the other person to respond.

Follow up!

Chances are, you aren’t going to see a 100% response rate — and that’s totally normal (and not a reflection on you at all!) Professionals are busy, emails get lost, and we all need a nudge sometimes. If you haven’t heard back in three days, re-forward the note with a friendly reminder at the top. After that, trust your gut - if you really want to get on their calendar, try a third outreach. But if there is still no response after that third try, it’s best to move on to the next!

Prep for the call

Once you’ve got the call on the calendar, it’s crucial to make sure you are ready to drive the conversation. Don’t assume the other party is going to come prepared with conversation starters and questions! They’ve been gracious enough to give you their time, it’s your responsibility to do the heavy lifting — and to make the most of this time. Questions you could ask include:

• What does your day-to-day work look like?
• How does the work that you do fit into the broader goals of the company?
• How and why did you decide to take this job?
• What skills do you have that you think make you successful at your job?
• What is your favorite part of the work that you do?

Say thanks and keep in touch

Before you hang up, ask the other person if it’s okay for you to remain in contact and then follow through! Send them a thank you email, but then make sure you’re maintaining that connection. Shoot them a note to let them know how your current job or school year is going, or if you’ve decided to apply for a job at their company. While not everyone will keep in touch, those that do will be great additions to your network and resources for you to tap into down the road. Who knows, that person you chatted with for 15 minutes could end up being an advocate for you and the opportunity you are seeking in the future.