Easy Ways to Reconnect with Your Professional Network

Networking is an essential avenue for a functional professional life. Not only is professional networking a more comfortable and pleasant way of job-seeking and doing business than impersonal job postings or advertisements, but it's also a great deal more effective. CNBC reported that upwards of 80% of jobs are filled through networking, and up to 70% of all jobs aren't published publicly on job search sites at all. The reasons are simple: people are more comfortable and enthusiastic to share opportunities, information, and recommendations involving people they already know,

When busy professionals get comfortable in a position for a while they may forget to consciously engage in networking and keeping up with friends and colleagues, and when it comes time to look for a new job, the process of reaching out can feel daunting. This is an especially common scenario lately as many seek to recover from the repercussions of covid isolation. Whatever the reason, if you find yourself in this position, don't fret – here are five easy tips for reconnecting with your professional network.

1) Make a List of People to Talk to

Begin by brainstorming and putting together a list of the professional contacts you might like to reconnect with. Review contact lists from business cards, emails, memory, and whatever other sources you may have. Social media platforms like LinkedIn are especially useful. Take inventory of the most obvious candidates and ask yourself if you're overlooking anyone who might be helpful and willing to speak to you. People in influential positions are obvious choices, but don't underestimate anyone – you never know who might be able to put in a good word for you. Personal friends, relatives, neighbors, and casual acquaintances can all be great sources.

Networking is an ongoing pursuit that's never finished, and there are few bad choices of people to speak to. So long as you have a positive or at least neutral relationship with the person, it rarely hurts to drop them a line.

2) Be Direct About the Purpose of Your Conversation

In an attempt to be friendly with someone whom they haven't spoken with in a while, some networkers beat around the bush when they contact others before bringing up business. While well-intentioned, this frequently comes off as an obvious attempt to hide one's intentions or build up to asking for a favor, which can create distrust in the other party where there was none before. This damages both the professional and personal relationships and is entirely unnecessary.

Instead, be direct about what you're doing at the very beginning, and say so with relaxed confidence. People are most comfortable when they understand the reasons for which they're being approached, and networking is a normal and mutually-beneficial activity. If presented in this way, the response will likely be supportive and appreciative. They may even feel flattered that you'd come to them.

3) Be Personal

Avoid the trap of copying and pasting introductions or leaving the same generic and overly-rehearsed phone message with those you contact. It's obvious to the recipient and sends a message that your personal relationship with them – hopefully one you both value – is simply a means to an end for you. While specific goals like finding a job or new clients are perfectly acceptable and need not be hidden, never let them cause you to forget that the primary focus of networking (professional networking or otherwise) should always be on building relationships with other real people just like you.

Be sure to take the time to address everyone you speak to in a personal and authentic way just as you would if you encountered them in person. Address them using their name, greet them in a way that suits your specific relationship with them, tell them your purpose for contacting them, and sincerely ask about appropriate aspects of their lives that you may be aware of or that they may have shared with you. In short… remember that you're talking to another human being, and act like it.

4) Don't Ask for a job – Ask for Insight

Not everyone you contact will be aware of job opportunities that might suit you, and even those who do might not be immediately certain that you're the one they should put forward. This makes simply asking for a job feel like an ultimatum, and one they'll probably be uncomfortable with. Yes or no questions tend to have this effect – instead, focus on open-ended questions.

Explain your career goals and the reasons you felt they'd be a good person to ask for insight and ask if they can share anything that might be helpful. If they're aware of a job, they may offer that information, but won't feel unduly pressured to do so. Regardless, this approach invites them to share anything helpful that they can – including things you might not have thought to ask.

5) Offer the Same Kind of Help

A good networking conversation is just that – a conversation. It should be collaborative and go in both directions. While you should make your own goals clear from the get-go, be sure to also communicate your willingness to help in the same kind of way if possible. Ask them what their needs are and if there's anything you could share that might help. Strong networks are made of people who care about and take care of one another, and even if you feel you don't have much to offer, your willingness to try will be appreciated.

6) Ask if they Know Anyone Else you can Talk to

Whether or not a person has a lot of relevant help to offer you, they may know someone else who does. Be sure to ask if there's anyone else they know of that might be willing to speak to you. This simple and often-overlooked strategy can be surprisingly powerful – it has the capacity to expand your network, do so with a positive recommendation, and may prove to make almost anyone (no matter their profession) into a helpful networking partner.

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