Quality vs. quantity: Which strategy is best for networking?
Q: I have been contacting people (50) in my network for job leads and would like to know if the quality of your network, such as fewer people, is more important than how many people you know? I wonder if I am using the best strategy for networking.
A: It is good to hear that you are contacting people, and the amount you have reached out to can indicate a need to refresh your networking skills.
If you choose 10 quality connections versus 100, you will reflect a good understanding of networking. It may sound paradoxical that a small number can be more powerful than a large base of contacts, but it is true.
Most people view networking as a quantity issue and often describe knowing only a few people. After reaching out to a limited nWumber with no results, they quickly point out that networking has not helped them land opportunities because they do not know many people.
If you were to ask your friends how they discovered their jobs, a typical response would be that they knew someone who helped them with a decision maker’s name or introduced them to the employer. When you contemplate how many people you have met in your career that you have kept up with throughout the years, chances are a handful remain with you — like less than 12 people.
Networking is based on quality because of the questions you ask rather than the number of people. The power of networking mainly depends on one word — “who.” Asking “who” your connections know and “who” their friends know is the foundation for gathering information. Effective networking takes place when you keep it simple but focused. For example, if your friend asked you for a good electrician, more than likely, you would give them the name of the company and the electrician who provided excellent service.
Out of the 50 you have already contacted, divide the list into 10 people and focus on building rapport with them in a different way, such as focusing more on how they got started in their career. Ask questions about new trends in their field or the changes they would like to make. One of the questions most fail to ask is where they see someone with your background fit into the industry.
This question is a good one to ask and often leads to the question “who” they know that could give you more information.