People are always talking almost how getting your career started and moving up the ladder is all about who you know, but what if you don't know anyone?

The practiced news: Y'all're definitely not solitary.

The other good news: Building your network from scratch doesn't have to take several hours every day. Instead, try using these 5 like shooting fish in a barrel methods for creating a network that people will call #squadgoals.

1. Create a Listing of Everyone Who Could Be in Your Professional Network

I know what you're thinking: "I can't create a list of professional person contacts! I don't have whatever!," merely unless you've spent your entire life living off the land in a cave past yourself, chances are you lot've come up into contact with other humans…correct?

Here'due south the kicker: Every person you've met and will continue to run across has the potential to exist part of your professional network. Do you have any close friends who piece of work in the same manufacture every bit you? Add together them to your list, or maybe you take family friends, professors or alumni whom you've leaned on for mentorship and support in the by. They get a spot, too. Whatever employers or coworkers from previous jobs or internships? Put 'em on there equally well.

What should this list look like? Create a uncomplicated Google Spreadsheet that includes each person'due south name, current role and company, contact data, where/how you met them, the final time you lot interacted with them and any other notes near your professional relationship.

The good news is, building and maintaining a network from scratch doesn't accept to exist a huge puzzle. If you're proactive and thoughtful, you'd exist surprised how apace things can go your way.

wayup-networking-contacts-spreadsheet

While you lot don't need to exist overly detailed ("Tweeted at Joe Smith on Apr 24, 2016 at 5:10am"), it's helpful going forward to see which contacts you haven't reached out to in a while (say hey before the connection goes cold) and also who yous can accomplish out to for what.

Pro tip: Brand sure you're reaching out to everyone in your network roughly iii times per twelvemonth. Even if it'south a quick bank check-in, that'south mode meliorate than no contact at all.

2. Contact Your Network the Correct Manner

1 of the biggest mistakes young people make when information technology comes to building and maintaining a network is not knowing when or how to contact professional contacts when they need something.

Some quick networking etiquette for reaching out to your network:

  • Make your ask small and manageable. Don't ask a contact for a task right off the bat or to figure out your career path for you.
  • Keep your electronic mail curt (5 sentences tops).
  • Steer articulate of emailing with several requests in a row.
  • Be mindful of other people's fourth dimension and also what needs they might accept.
  • Offer them an out.

What should you practice instead? As I mentioned higher up, if yous're staying in touch with your network, reaching out should exist no big bargain.

What a Template of Your Email Looks Similar

Here's what the outreach email can look similar:

Howdy [proper name],

It was so not bad chatting about [topic y'all discussed] at [place you interacted]! Every bit always, your thoughts were on point and exactly what I needed to hear.

I take a very quick favor to ask yous. I'1000 [explain in 1-2 sentences] and would actually appreciate your help with [explain in 3-4 words]. If y'all're able to hop on a quick x-minute call to discuss, that'd be amazing, or if it'southward easier to answer over e-mail, that'd exist helpful also.

I totally empathise that you're really decorated, so it'south okay if y'all can't take this on right now! Either manner, I'd love to get out for coffee and take hold of up presently.

Best,

[Your name]

What Your E-mail Looks Like in Exercise

Here's what that email looks similar when filled out:

Hi James,

It was then dandy chatting most your start in software engineering at Wesleyan's alumni event last weekend! Every bit always, your thoughts were on point and exactly what I needed to hear.

I have a very quick favor to ask you. I'm virtually to take my first technical interview next Th and would really appreciate your help going through the basics of how technical interviews work. If yous're able to hop on a quick x-minute call to discuss, that'd be amazing, or if it's easier to reply over electronic mail, that'd be helpful also.

I totally empathise that you're really busy, and then it's okay if you can't take this on right now! Either way, I'd love to become out for coffee and catch up soon.

All-time,

Lily

What a Template of Your Email Looks Like

If yous haven't reached out to someone in your network in a long fourth dimension, make sure you acknowledge that you haven't been in contact in a while, and likewise make sure that your ask is pocket-sized.

Hullo [proper name],

Long time, no talk! I've been decorated [explain your situation in 3-4 words] and information technology looks similar you lot've been doing huge things at [explain their state of affairs in three-4 words].

I have a very quick favor to ask you. I'm [explicate in 1-two sentences] and would really appreciate your help. If you lot're able to hop on a quick x-minute call to discuss, that'd exist amazing, or if it's easier to answer over email, that'd exist helpful too.

I totally empathize that you're really decorated, so it'southward okay if you can't accept this on correct now! Either fashion, I'd love to go out for coffee and catch up soon.

Best,

[Your proper name]

What Your Electronic mail Looks Similar in Practise

Here's that email when filled out:

Hi Carly,

Long time, no talk! I've been busy finishing up my senior yr and handing in my thesis (more than nigh this on WayUp), and it looks similar you've been doing huge things at Google (congrats on the big product launch!).

I have a small-scale favor to ask you lot. I'm looking at applying for several engineering jobs, simply I'm nervous about how technical recruiting works for total-fourth dimension positions. Since you worked as a university recruiter and dealt with these scenarios all the time from a hiring manager's perspective, I would really appreciate your assist going through the basics of how these parts of the hiring process work. If you're able to see upward for coffee or hop on a quick xv-minute call to discuss, that'd be amazing, or if it'southward easier to answer over email, that'd be helpful too.

I totally understand that you're really busy, so it'southward okay if you can't take this on right now! Either way, I'd love to become out for coffee and catch upwards shortly.

All-time,

Lily

Trust me: There'south cypher worse than getting an e-mail from someone yous haven't spoken to in a yr that says, "Hey! We haven't talked in a year! Become me a chore at your company!" Not a skillful look.

3. Chief the Cold Pitch

One time you've constitute your basis with the people you already know, how do you lot accomplish out to people y'all don't? WayUp's co-founder and CEO Liz Wessel is a huge fan of common cold email pitching , and she's onto something: Common cold email pitching is a surprisingly effective fashion to meet new people and get further in your career. Why does it become a bad rap? Oftentimes people simply don't practice it correct.

When you're emailing someone y'all've never talked to before, there are iii key things to continue in mind:

  • Proceed your actual email short (five sentences tops).
  • Brand your asking small, simple and straightforward.
  • Offer the person an out.

What a Template of Your E-mail Looks Like

Howdy [person's first name],

I've been a huge fan of your piece of work at [person's company] for a while, particularly your recent work on [specific projection or initiative]. I also saw that [insert five-7 words near any other points of connection, like being an alma mater or how y'all worked on something like].

I'g a [explain your situation in 3-5 words], and since this is in your wheelhouse, I was wondering if it would be possible to [short one-sentence request]. I'd love to meet for coffee or hop on a quick fifteen-infinitesimal call to discuss, whatsoever'south easiest for you. I as well understand that you're decorated; if there's a better fourth dimension for me to follow up, let me know.

Thanks so much for your time, and if y'all need any other info, feel costless to have a look at my WayUp profile [link to profile]!

Best,

[Your name]

What Your Email Looks Like in Exercise

Hi Abby,

I've been a huge fan of your work at Teen Vogue for a while, particularly your contempo four-part installment on higher political party culture. It was such an eye-opening read, and as someone who'due south covered the college vanquish in the past, I know how much work it took.

I'm a recent grad who's looking at 2 potential career paths in magazines, and because you're and so knowledgeable about the earth of mag journalism, I was hoping to get your opinion on if it's ameliorate to beginning in print or digital when information technology comes to working at a magazine.

I'm New York-based, so I'd honey to buy you coffee or hop on a quick 15-infinitesimal phone call to hash out, whatever's easiest for you. I besides understand that you're busy; if in that location's a better time for me to follow up, let me know.

Thanks so much for your time, and if y'all demand any other info, feel gratuitous to have a await at my WayUp profile!

Best,

Lily

Fourth dimension to rack upwardly those contacts.

4. Apply Your Social Media for Professional Good

Speaking from personal feel, during my iv years of college, I was based in Middletown, Connecticut, a periphery suburb of Hartford, and while I liked my time at Wesleyan, central Connecticut isn't the most happening place for networking, especially if you're looking to connect with professionals primarily in New York and San Francisco.

How'd I get around it? One discussion: Twitter . I joined Twitter chats, tweeted out links to stories and manufactures I found interesting, and interacted with as many people on the platform every bit possible. Unsurprisingly, afterwards nearly two and a half years as an agile user, I'd venture to say that I met 70% of my network online (and probably 50% of my friends, if I'thou existence honest).

While I'm not maxim you lot need to follow what I did to a T, the lesson is simple: Social media, whether it'due south Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or another network, is an like shooting fish in a barrel, free way to build your network at your ain pace. Information technology isn't just for personal use, and information technology can get you light-years ahead.

v. Assist Other People as Much equally Possible

When you're trying to build your ain network, it's easy to get defenseless upward in what you need and what your ain career looks like. One of the most important things y'all can exercise as y'all proceed to add more people to your list is to make sure you lot're helping out your contacts as much as possible.

Feel like you don't have anything to offer others equally a young person? Recall over again. Often people are looking to others for small favors, like posting almost an exciting opportunity on social media or inviting some friends to an consequence their visitor is throwing.

These small favors add together upwards and make you a valuable connection for other people, so the sooner yous start offering your aid to people, the easier it is to build your network and as well create an army of people willing to go to bat for you in the future.

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