It was summer 2017. I had just quit my day job was launching a new career. I spent a good deal of time networking, meeting smart people and saying “yes” to new opportunities. I attended a happy hour for people in public health. I met 2 women that evening. Both smart. Both with graduate degrees from impressive schools. Both unemployed and seeking work.
One woman, let’s call her Stephanie, emailed me right after the event, as I had encouraged her to do when I gave her my business card (option for what to do if you don't have a card). She gave me a nice summary of her experience and what she was seeking. She told me about the positions for which she recently applied. She made it easy for me to help her. I thought about who I knew who could use someone with her skills.
The other woman, let’s call her Brianna, emailed me after the event but just to say nice to meet you. That was alright. But her email did nothing to motivate me to help her or to continue our conversation. She didn’t include details about her skill set or anything I could sink my teeth into as a potential resource for her job search.
https://unsplash.com/@grovemade (2 computers on wooden stands on a desk with plants behind them)
A few weeks after the event I met up with Stephanie to talk strategy about her job search. I reviewed her resume and offered to share any relevant job postings with her. This worked for both of us as I was establishing myself as someone who helped others land and prepare for job interviews. And she was seeking just that.
A month after that I forwarded her a job listing that was posted by a colleague of mine. Stephanie responded quickly that she had just applied. I wrote a quick email to my colleague who had posted the position. I told her that I knew this candidate Stephanie and that she seemed—from my brief period of knowing her—smart and capable. She thanked me for the recommendation. And then my colleague hired Stephanie.
The other woman got a job about 6 months later. I know this because I saw it on Linkedin, not because she told me about it, even though I was someone who she had met on her job search. (Hint: Keep people in your network updated when you have major work changes).
I had been open to helping both of these people. But I needed them to demonstrate the initiative. Stephanie’s assertiveness made me confident that she was someone who got things done. It made me more comfortable giving a light recommendation—after all I hadn’t known her long or really observed her work ethic. I provided an informal reference check, but an important one nonetheless.
Moral of the story: Follow up with people. Make yourself useful to them and make it easy for them be useful to you.