Networking 101: How to get favors
In most cases, we network with people to get favors in the future — letters of recommendation, opportunities, guidance, funding, etc. This article gives 5 steps of Networking to get the favors you need.
Step 1: GET: Give Expectation-less-ly Today
This is the crucial step that most people forget. A good network starts from Giving first.
What you can give depends on the person you are trying to add to your network. Some examples –
· Advice and Guidance (Juniors),
· Suggestions and Feedback (Colleagues)
· Compliment, Respect, and Attention (Seniors)
Step 2: Help them to help you
This step of networking is internal. You must be clear and precise about the favor you need. A vague request having open-ended questions can add to the work the other person has to do to help you.
· Trim down your request statement
· Add specific parameters of time, company name, amount of money, etc.
· Be direct in your request
For example — I am looking for a letter of recommendation for Google for the SDE-II role in their ongoing hiring.
Step 3: Ask small first
It is experimentally proven that once you have done a small favor for someone you become more likely to do bigger favor for them. So, try to ask for a small favor before asking for big ones.
Step 4: Remind
It is possible that the person forgets about your request because they are busy with their own engagements. You must be patient but you must also remind them politely about the request. Because it is you who has to worry about the deadlines, not them.
Step 5: Grateful and Stay Connected
Missing this step is the reason people’s network decays with time. Once we get the favor, we forget to be grateful and we lose touch with the person.
Remember
Built relationships while you don’t need them to have them when you do.
