Networking.. Imposter Syndrome/Feeling Discouraged

Hi there,

1) I don't want to be pushy - should I follow up again?

I would rather look for a different connection at this stage. 

I would also recommend reaching out to someone when you need a referral and not doing so months before and then reaching out again after a few months. 

You might think this is transactional (which is partially true), but for most people, if you reach out twice, you are actually increasing the effort needed from the other side. So I would reach out once and ask indirectly for the referral then - in most cases it will increase the likelihood of a yes.

2) How normal is this? 

This is normal – most people won’t reply to your messages. If you have a great referral strategy, you might get 30% replies. This means that even in that case most people won’t reply to you.

3) Should I find new people just through LinkedIn cold-call? 

I would recommend cold-email instead of LinkedIn as if done right should lead to a better conversion. You can find more on referrals below:

▶ How to Get an MBB Invitation

▶ The Exact Steps to Get a Referral

Good luck!

Francesco

It's not uncommon for professionals to become busy and for follow-up messages to go unanswered. People have various commitments and priorities, so it's important not to take it personally. Before reaching out again, consider the following:

Timing: If you recently sent the follow-up message, give it some time. Professionals may have busy schedules, and it's possible that your contact hasn't had a chance to respond.

Politeness: Your message should be polite and express understanding of their busy schedule. You can mention that you appreciate their time and understanding.

Ask Concise Questions: Keep your message concise and focused. Ask specific questions about the recruiting process or any advice they can provide.

Sample Follow-up: "Hello [Her Name],

I hope this message finds you well. I understand you're busy, and I appreciate your time during our previous conversation. As recruiting season approaches, I was wondering if there are any updates on the process, and if you have any additional tips to share. Your insights are valuable, and I appreciate any guidance you can provide.

Thank you again for your time.

Best regards, [Your Name]"

If there's still no response after your follow-up, it might be worth exploring other connections within the company. Reach out to individuals in different departments or roles who may be able to offer insights into the company culture or provide advice on the application process.

Remember, networking is a gradual process, and not every contact will lead to immediate results. Don't be discouraged; continue reaching out to new connections and building relationships over time.

Hi there,

This is totally normal.

You cannot imagine the number of LinkedIn messages I received from candidates when I was AP at McKinsey. You cannot simply follow up with all of them, specially for giving detailed tips on the recruiting process (that the recruiters' job). 

Having said that, I suggest the following:

• Work on reaching out other potential referrals (you will not get a 100% success rate, as other colleagues are saying)
• Ask your potential referrals you want. If you had a good conversation and you felt you have built some connection, ask for the referral if this is what you want. No need to keep in touch several weeks with someone to ask what you want, consultants have very limited time!
• Instead of cold-call, look for LinkedIn connections who has other connections in your target firm. This is by far the most effective way to get referrals

Good luck!

Alberto

Hi there,

Please don't follow-up again :)

Remember, this is “like” Tinder. You're going to have to message a lot of people, reach out to a lot of people, and get rejected a ton.

A 10% hit rate when networking is fantastic. Meaning? For every 10, 9 will reject you.

It's just part of it.

There are techniques to message a LOT of people in a tailored way with HIGH hit rates. I run training in how to network effectively and increase your success - feel free to reach out!

Just remember: You need to keep pushing and need to brush off the rejections….it's just life!

Here's some reading too:

How to Get a Consulting Internship - Tips and Tricks
 

Application Tracker – Keep Track With This Free Template

Hi there!

Sorry to hear of these feelings. They're absolutely normal. Many candidates go through this process.

Basically, you need to shift a bit how you see networking. 

Think of these networking calls / chats as a gift that this consultant is offering you. They are basically giving you their precious time for 10-20 minutes. 

I would get everything that I needed directly in that time. I would avoid following up with additional questions and creating more work for them. 

As a consultant, your schedule is often hectic and you need to constantly prioritise between lots of things that you NEED to do, plus you need to keep your own personal life afloat, so handling additional requests from random people often falls to the side. 

In short, don't expect much outside of these networking calls. Even if you align with them on providing referrals, it's good to get this sort of verbal promise from more than 1 person (because it often happens that one might stop answering). 

Sharing two articles here on how to do effective networking:

• Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals
• Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn? 

Good luck!
Cristian

Hi there,

it's a numbers game. You need to go broad in a somewhat simultaneous fashion and not wait for one person at a time. Of course it is pretty clear to the consultant (I'm assuming she is a consultant at the firm and not an HR person) what you want from her. And she probably gets a ton of such requests from other applicants like yourself. Since her main job is consulting, she is likely swamped with work as well and may not have a strong incentive to spend more time on you.

However, there are quite a few firms that have so-called “hire a friend” programs where employees get a financial reward if a candidate they referred ends up joining the firm. In such cases, the incentive for individual consultants may be higher to actually provide referrals (you should still expect a proper vetting though since it is their reputation on the line internally as well).

So keep trying and expect rejection as the baseline scenario. That will avoid you feeling discouraged so quickly. Eventually you will get positive feedback - and nobody expect for you will know how many rejections you've received.

Best of luck

Yes, this is normal.

She already put in the time to help you. May not be interested in what she may view as a time consuming one-way sided relationship.

You'll have to keep trying.

Hi there,

don't be frustrated, these things are indeed normal. However, I'd not just push blindly for more networking as many suggest here, networking can help but it is also not always required (depends on many factors, e.g., your background, desired offices etc.). I'd be happy to take a quick glance at your CV and provide you my personal recommendation (just send me a DM). Maybe you have such an imposter syndrome that you completely underestimate your personal value and might not need a referral altogether. Warm regards, Freddy 

Hi,

This is really normal. 

Consultants can get extremely busy - to the point where it may even take a toll on their personal relationships. So, definitely understandable that you don't get a response.

For me, when I was cold networking, my rule was to follow up twice (maximum), and if still no reply after that, I would move on.

Networking is hard - don't give up!