Conversation Starters for Job Search Networking

In job search, once you have begun to build profiles and make connections through sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, what specific ways can you ‘add value’ or help your new social network contacts as you work to befriend them and gain their trust?

Below are 21 ideas to get you started. As you network and engage, you will likely come up with at least another 21 by applying these to your own situation and expanding on them. The key is to think creatively. For example, what would make you feel appreciated by your colleagues or peers? What would make you take notice of someone in a sea of strangers? Here are some starting points to engage with people within your network.

1. Give a personal testimonial about them, their work, their business

2. Review and mention a book they wrote

3. Make them aware of a white paper you saw that could be of interest

4. Tell them how much you enjoyed a particular blog post of theirs

5. Comment on the clean look and attention-getting design of their website

6. Compliment them on something they’ve said, done, or achieved

7. Drop them a congratulatory note around a speech they made or seminar they conducted

8. Mention them and their product/service to others in your social network(s)

9. Give them some free publicity in the form of a “plug” on your blog or website

10. Send them a potential business lead

11. Let them know of a competitive situation in their business that could help them

12. Mail or email them a copy of a recent promotion you saw about them with a short handwritten “Congrats!”

13. Recommend a book you read that might be of interest

14. Turn them on to a timely article you read online or offline

15. Send them an email with a link to the article

16. Snail mail them a copy of the article

17. Congratulate them on a 10-year-or whatever year-work anniversary

18. Compliment them on their good-looking family, if you saw a picture of them together

19. Send them some information on one of their hobbies if you saw mention of it in an article

20. Congratulate them on a major project completion that you read about in a trade magazine

21. Comment on a new innovation or invention they just had mentioned

The key in all of this is to be yourself. Be sincere and genuine. In this age of authenticity, you must mean what you say and follow through. And you must learn to really care. Only then will you build the necessary, deep trust and credibility in others’ eyes, and in their view of you.

Establish this trust, and regularly stay in touch-and you’ll make true online social network friends you can count on-not just for your next job, but for life.

About the Author

Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. is an educator, author, and trainer. Her most recent books include The Social Media Survival Guide (Also available in Spanish), The Online Job Search Survival Guide, and S.E.R.I.A.L.PRENEURSHIP: The Secrets of Repeatable Business Success. She is frequently cited by the national media as an expert in social media.

Comments

[kyle ward]

The key in all of this is to be yourself. Be sincere and genuine. In this age of authenticity, you must mean what you say and follow through. And you must learn to really care. Only then will you build the necessary, deep trust and credibility in others’ eyes, and in their view of you.
-nice paragraph, i really appreciate it. XD

[Dennis]

Hi

Great list. I recently found myself unemployed and is trying the "network way" to get back on the market. So this terrific stuff to start networking. I already use some of the tips above and have gotten ok feedback. Love web 2.0 :)

/Dennis

[claudia o'keefe]

Nice blog, I really appreciate it. I want to apply this in order for me to attain such success. :)

[Job Description]

I really appreciate your piece above. The main thing, like you said, "is to be yourself." Credibility goes beyond what we'd like others to think of us; it is about who and what we really are. For the individual who creates a false identity will soon be found out. And it can be quite demoralizing. You've said it all. Thank you.