It has happened several times in recent years.
In a desperate bid to get a job, capable and well-meaning professionals commit networking suicide.
Here’s the Skinny
I have received many broadcast emails in which I am among the many people in my BCC line. The title refers to the name of the person or the type job they are seeking. The email body is their resume.
These people are not my friends. They may have my email address, and they may be subscribers of one of my newsletters. However, I don’t know Adam. They’ve never contacted us before. They have never purchased training from me, never asked a question, never participated or offered to help spread the word on pmStudent, etc.
Yet, this request from the blue implies that I owe them something. As if I’m trying to help people get started with project management, I feel obligated to spend hours answering random requests from people who don’t care enough to read my writing or to build a relationship over time.
People who don’t know you don’t owe anything to you
I don’t have this obligation, nor does anyone else who is being spammed by someone who doesn’t know how to network effectively.
This type of email can be sent to me by clicking a button in my email client. It’s called “Mark as Spam”.
The sad truth is that I know these people are well-meaning and may be spamming out from frustration. You won’t get my attention if you don’t have a relationship with me in some other way.
In fact, if you are marked as spammer in my email program, I will probably never see another email from you.
You can still get sucked into networking, even with the best intentions.
Take control by doing it right
You want to network in a way which produces results. If you don’t, why aren’t you reading this?
So listen up.
Networking is about establishing and maintaining long-term professional relationships that benefit all parties.
This is how you build trust with your network and earn their respect until they are willing to refer others.
This is how you create opportunities. People who like and trust you will think of you when they see a chance.
This is because they are able to get to know you enough to look out for the right fit for you, even if you have never asked.
Networking is key to your career advancement.