If you think reaching out to request a meeting over coffee will result in a job interview, think again. This job search advice is definitely out of date (and frankly was never considerate networking guidance to begin with). In this episode of the Build Your Dream Network podcast, Kelly outlines 5 steps to take before reaching out cold to a prospective employer or networking contact, along with three essential things to include in every cover letter you send. Instead of pursuing the dead-end “coffee date” approach, follow these steps to customize your communications and significantly improve your job search prospects.
Key takeaways:
- Asking to “grab a coffee” is an outdated approach to networking
- A customized approach to reaching out to prospective employers will likely be more successful
- Research the industry and companies you’re interested in and keep up with their current projects
- When you boost your interview IQ, you can more effectively tie your skills to the interests of the company
What to listen for:
00:38 Why your “coffee date” is unlikely to result in an interview
03:03 A more effective way to reach out to prospective employers
04:30 How to boost your industry intelligence
05:22 How to demonstrate your industry IQ and hustle to potential employers
06:20 The Build Your Dream Network bottom line
Quotes:
“The person you’re reaching out to cold may very well need your smarts and hustle, so demonstrate that you have both by your carefully crafted customized outreach.” [06:07]
“Take a hard pass on well-meaning but out of date networking advice. Customize every employer communication.” [06:25]
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