Network Your Face Off Like We're Not in a Pandemic

Over the course of my career, I've attended hundreds, maybe even thousands, of work lunches, "coffees", and dinners. I'm a former magazine writer and editor (Forbes, Marie Claire, Refinery29, Lifetime Television), and schmoozing was very much a part of the job. On any given day, my inbox was littered with invites for sit-downs of every stripe: awards luncheons, fundraisers, PR pitches, product rollouts, meet & greets, banquets, conferences, you name it. I'm an extrovert by nature, which, to my mind, is a competitive advantage in that profession. Contacts become sources, or better yet, stories. So I made it my business to make at least one useful contact at these events. And indeed, my Rolodex is crammed with names of interesting and influential people I happened to sit next to at a lunch. Founders. Philanthropists. Politicos. (At a Hearst event eons ago, I was seated next to one of the Biden granddaughters, a wry firecracker who told me she had the same clunky computer case as me—and that she hated it as much as I did.) I was an uber-networker. (And I ate pretty well, too.)

Not so much anymore. These days schmoozers like myself find ourselves parched and withered in this social desert of Zoom meetings and Google hangouts. By now, we are all well-versed in the limitations of the medium: the awkward pauses and interruptions; the carefully curated backgrounds masking overflowing laundry hampers and kitty litter boxes; the absence of actual human warmth. I've never once looked at the clock on a Zoom meeting and thought, Wow, it's already been an hour?! (Have you?)

Contrarian though it may sound, I've found that there's actually never been a better time to "meet" new people.

Still, Covid be damned, I haven't resigned myself to a lost year of networking. Contrarian though it may sound, I've found that there's actually never been a better time to "meet" new people. It's precisely because so few introductions are happening right now that, when they do, they are intrinsically memorable. So leverage this great pause and dial up your networking. Here's how:

1. Hit up your existing network to broker introductions. (Be specific in your asks!) Whether you're job hunting or looking to expand your client base, reach out to former coworkers and managers and tell them so. Then ask pointedly if they would mind connecting you via email with a contact in the specific industry you are scoping. Be sure to explain why the connection would be beneficial to the recipient. ("I'm a seasoned operations exec and think this company might benefit from my expertise." "I'm a customer facing technologist, and that headhunter should know who I am.") You're not just touting your credentials here, you're giving that person a reason to make the introduction, in addition to the language he or she can cut and paste into the introductory email. (Rule of thumb: always make requests easy for people to say yes to.) Get over any compunctions you have about asking for favors. That's one of the career secrets of seasoned journalists: we have no shame when it comes to asking for things. And you'd be amazed how much people love feeling important and plugged-in, these days especially. Grease your request with some flattery ("you're so well-connected in the space, I was hoping you could..."), and you're certain to get the email introduction you seek.
2. Cold email someone you've been dying to meet by telling them exactly that. Assume that these months have been excruciatingly brutal for everyone. Imagine how inviting it must be to receive an email from a stranger essentially professing to be a fan? Who would ignore such an email? Once again, flattery will pay dividends here. Detail why you've been following this person's career and want to connect. Be sure to include an unimposing ask—a 15 minute call, perhaps, to chat and introduce yourself properly. Keep it simple and unobtrusive. I prefer calls to Zooms because, let's face it, it's exhausting having to doll up just to chat with someone. And I'm certain, absolutely certain, I am not alone in thinking so.
3. Leverage your platform to meet people. I was so hungry for high-grade human interaction this past summer, with my region in lockdown, that I taught myself how to podcast just so I'd have an excuse to reach out to my bucket list of contacts. It worked. That podcast, Hazmat Hotel, became a vital conduit for A-list introductions, including Soledad O'Brien, Project Lincoln cofounder Reed Galen, and New York media legend Errol Louis, all of whom I interviewed. (Some, admittedly, I pleaded with for an interview. No shame in that game.) No podcast? No problem. LinkedIn is its own platform with easy-to-use tools so you can self-publish articles and Q&As (like the one you're reading now). Offer to moderate a Facebook Live with the person you're itching to connect with, or consider writing a profile for Medium. These tools take a modicum of practice to master. And unless you're hoping to interview Oprah or Elon Musk, most non-household name execs would no doubt be flattered by the offer. Win win for you, even if they turn you down.
4. Get more mileage out of those student loans by tapping your alumni office. The greatest underutilized resource in your networking arsenal is, undoubtedly, your university alumni office. Since you graduated, you likely have had little to do with your alma mater short of the occasional fundraising solicitation. But alumni offices and associations offer a wealth of contacts and career resources, and you'd be foolish to not activate them. Skim the alumni magazine—it's likely available online—to find potential contacts, or hone those Google skills to find alumni in your field you'd like to connect with. Then ask a rep in your alumni office to broker the introduction.
5. There's an opportunity hidden in your existing network. Go find it. Right now, I'd estimate that I barely know, let alone speak to, 95% of my social media contacts. Recently, I decided to see who was following me on Facebook. I was astonished by how many people I used to know—old classmates, ancient coworkers, randoms I met along the way—who, it turns out, had wildly interesting jobs, which I learned about only after I reconnected with them, beginning with a simple hello. A special effects maestro for LucasFilms. A political pollster. A TV booker. Reconnecting with them also afforded them an opportunity to marvel at my career. ("Wow, you have a podcast?!") Mine your existing network because, I assure you, there's gold in them thar hills.

Want to connect with me? Want to be a guest on Hazmat Hotel or recommend someone who should? Email me at leajgoldman@gmail.com.