I recently volunteered for the WiTNY (Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship in New York) Career Readiness Program. It's a six week long career readiness training covering resume building, personal branding, and interview preparation. The WiTNY program is a collaboration between Cornell Tech and the City University of New York (CUNY) funded by industry partners. For any CUNY student who has an interest in pursuing a career in technology, please check out the program here.
I had a great experience helping students begin the process of identifying their strengths to start crafting a value driven resume. During the engagement, I had the pleasure of meeting new people who I want to collaborate in the near future. The start of relationship building is key because it is typically where the relationship falls.
Whether you meet someone at a networking event or after an interview, following up will be the factor that sets you apart. Sounds simple, but you'll be surprised how many people skip this step and wonder why they didn't get a callback or the partnership never fully flourished. If you're following up via email or phone, these are the tips you should consider when turning a good relationship into a great one:
Follow up the same day
It's no secret that attention span for people tends to be very short. Knowing that, make the effort to follow up while the initial meeting is still fresh in your contact's mind.
The Connection
Once again, the attention span is short. Let's say you both laughed or shared something insightful during your conversation. It'll be important to recall that moment bringing back the emotional connection.
WIFM
What's in it for me? It's essential to mention the value you bring and how the person will benefit from you joining their team or collaborating together on a project.
Connect
For professional relationships, your go to should be the digital Rolodex LinkedIn. It may be beneficial to follow other's Twitter, Instagram, or sign up to their newsletter. As long as you connect.
Follow Up to the Follow Up
You sent the email or made the phone call, what now? The secret sauce lies in your follow up. You must schedule the next meeting or call with your contact to talk next steps. For the last time, attention span. You want to stay in your contact's mind.
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