I sent a “notice” (which is a newsletter for me) to my LinkedIn group about level 3 and 4 contacts. The idea is that you MUST connect deeper and ask “who do you know” questions. You can view the article and comments here.
Rita Carey, a professional job search coach, added this in the comments:
I would like to add a second recommendation… stay in touch. If you wish people a Happy Thanksgiving with a little novelty and express your gratitude for their support, you will achieve two things: you will show professionalism and they will remember you and your transition.
I saw it so well… of course, not only on Thanksgiving, but also that occasional email or phone call that says, “I was thinking of you today”…. which contains an article of common interest or a relevant reference.
Stay in touch.
You can call it “nurturing relationships”.
You can call it “tracking”.
Why do people do a bad job to stay in touch?
The reasons are varied.
Some people are not good at networking or do not like them.
Some people are too absorbed in work, family, recreation, etc.
It’s hard to see the immediate value of taking the time to stay in touch.
For the most part, tracking is difficult.
That’s one of the reasons I created JibberJobber.
What if you could have a system that makes it easier? The system that prompted you to make contact with someone?
I haven’t talked to Rita for 2 months… How my brain works is not in sight, it has disappeared from the mind. And if/when I think of her, I feel guilty for letting too much time pass and I’m not quite sure what I would say to cultivate the relationship… so in this state I will let more time flow. And then years pass, and all my good intentions are meaningless (except perhaps the guilt I feel).
Then I lose my job and I know I want to talk to her, but then I question my motives and don’t reach out to her because hey, what kind of friend am I if I only reach out to her when I need it?
We do a better job when we help people, whether they are looking for a job, are happily employed, business owners, or a grandmother who wants to have great relationships with her grandchildren, to stay in touch.
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