Work Strategically!
"10 Secrets for Career Change Success"
Expand Your Network
Networking letters are a great way to expand your current network or to
initiate a new, potentially helpful relationship. The benefit of
letters is that they leave a tangible reminder of your request that is
hard to ignore.
Think of this correspondence as a brief, personal introduction. In other words, it is the beginning of a successful relationship. You can then follow it up with another note, a phone call, or a meeting. Your well-written letter will open many new doors.
You can send your communication through postal mail or by email. Postal mail is definitely more formal and is appropriate for contacting people you don't know. Email, on the other hand, is fast, friendly, and a good way to reconnect with acquaintances from your past.
Essential Elements
Include these essential elements:
- Reason for the letter
- Mention of who referred you, if applicable
- Request for leads or a brief meeting
- Reassurance that you don't expect them to have an opening, you are only gathering information
- Appreciation
Sample Letters
Consider using and adapting one of the samples below to suit your needs.
After you write your first letter, it can then serve as your foundational model for future efforts. With this basic template, you are now ready to adapt, customize, and send variations to a myriad of contacts. It won't be long before you have doubled or even tripled the size of your network.
For more great resources, follow these links:
Job Networking
Networking
Networking Skills
Networking Tools
Networking Phone Calls
Sample Networking Letter to an Acquaintance
Sample Networking Letter to a Stranger
Back to Free Resources from Networking Letters