TIN #018 - Why the holidays are the best time to network
Don't listen to what people say. The end of the year is a great time to network
Good morning!
This issue is coming out the Saturday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. For me, this time of year is the start of the holiday season.
People think the holidays are a bad time to network, but they're wrong.
Today, I want to share why I believe this and to give you a couple of tips to help you network between now and the end of the year.
This issue takes less than 4 minutes to read.
Networking during the holidays
I've heard people say the end of the year is a bad time to look for a job. People go on PTO, companies are on holiday, and open positions get put on hold.
But a slow down in hiring doesn't mean you should stop networking. In fact, this is one of the best times of the year to reconnect with people.
Here's why:
Time. We have a bit of extra time. With people on PTO and projects wrapping up, we have more flexibility in our schedules. That means we're more willing to get together in person for coffee, lunch, or on the phone to catch up.
Mindfulness. We use the holidays at the end of the year as a time to reflect on where we've been, and where we want to go. We're more likely to zoom out to look at the bigger picture. This is a great time to ask people what they've been working on this past year. These questions uncover opportunities to help others.
Gratitude and generosity. This is a season of giving. As people think about what they're grateful for, they feel generous and are willing to help.
How do you network around the holidays
There's no magic formula for networking around the holidays. It's the same as any other time of year, but I want to share a couple of ideas with you to help you get started.
Holiday cards.
It's not a universal tradition, but many people send holiday cards to the same list of people every year. If you're one of these people, take some time to review your list.
While making sure the addresses are current, scan the list to find someone you haven't talked to recently. Try to find someone who's not related to you but means enough to you to be on your list. Don't just send them a card, re-connect with them with email or other social media.
Say you were thinking about them and wanted to see how their year had been. Use the conversation to find a way to help them.
It may not lead to an immediate career opportunity. But as I shared in TIN #017, you never know where these conversation will lead. Your holiday card list may contain someone who can connect you to someone new
If you reach out to one person who doesn't respond right away, reach out to another one.
If you don't send holiday cards, you can still use this tactic.
Go to your contacts in your phone or computer or even an old school address book.
Flip through them and look for someone to re-connect with this year.
My point is there are people in your personal community you’ve lost touch with and forgotten about. These are the people to reconnect with.
It's not only about networking. It's about human connection and the positive benefits connection brings. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes.
Recommendations
In this season of gratitude, think of people you're grateful for in your career. Who’s helped you out? When did you last talk to them?
Reconnect with them.
If you aren't sure how, write them a recommendation on LinkedIn. I showed you how to do this in TIN #012. When you do this, the other person will likely send you a message to say thank you.
This is a great way to reconnect.
It restarts the conversation and inspires them to reciprocate to give you something. I've been working on being more intentional about writing at least one of these each week. I've found when I write one, it leads me directly into the re-connection conversation.
People I know
This week, I'm adding something new at the end of each issue called, "People I Know."
I post every weekday on LinkedIn. By staying consistent, I've met many interesting and helpful people. I'm going to start highlighting one person each week who is active on LinkedIn and adds value to others.
Many of these people run businesses through LinkedIn. I'm not trying to sell their services to you. I want you to know who they are because they’re important members of my personal community.
All I would ask is you give their LinkedIn profiles a look and if you like what you see, follow them. If you don't like or don't need what they have to offer, you can go on about your day, no pressure.
Today I want to introduce you to Steve P Brady. Steve is an English teacher, but runs a career advising service, as well. Here’s the link to his website. One of the reasons I enjoy interacting with Steve is he shows up on LinkedIn everyday around 8AM ET.
He comments on my LinkedIn posts and we have short conversations in the comments about networking and job searching. I have never met him in person, but I feel like I know Steve.
This is the kind of connection you can grow on LinkedIn if you show up each day and comment on other people's posts.
Be sure to check out Steve's LinkedIn profile, follow him, and check out what he does.
Have a great week and I’ll see you next Saturday!