How to Build a Powerful Executive Network

You hear it all the time. A powerful executive network combined with active networking is the best way to land your next gig.

For one thing, the people you meet through networking may be able to help you identify “hidden jobs” at your target companies. That is, unadvertised positions and new opportunities created around your unique promise of value.

You may have let your networking efforts slide because you’ve been happily and securely employed, so you thought you didn’t need to keep networking.

Or, you may hate networking so much that, even though you’re actively job hunting now, you avoid doing much of it.

Whatever is keeping you from purposeful networking, remind yourself that NOT networking can lead to a prolonged job search with less chance of landing a dream job.

Set yourself up to network well

Get into good career management habits that will lead to better networking.

Job search and career strategist Bernadette Pawlik offered these words of wisdom, in a comment on a LinkedIn post of mine:

Here’s something I’d like to share based upon my 20 plus years as a retained executive recruiter:

• From day one of your career, make an hour of connecting your priority. Be the person who sends the thank you note, the congrats.
• Make establishing yourself as a person of your word a priority… especially when it comes to helping others.
• When you reach a certain compensation level, educate yourself on the functioning of retained executive search firms. There are 50 “top” ones, but over 3 thousand smaller ones. Learn who they are and how they work.
• Make sure you have an updated resume with these.
• Leverage LinkedIn to introduce yourself to those 2 to 3 levels above your current role. Seek mentors…we all need them.
• Follow the executive-level job boards. Not because you are “looking” but to learn what the most highly sought skills/experiences are.
• Create a LinkedIn profile that is 75% factual, 25% personality. There is little “wiggle” room in executive hiring. And, what you have delivered in the last 10 years is what counts.

Start with the people you already know

Smart-networking expert Liz Lynch advises:

“Connect more deeply with more people who are already around you, those involved in the same activities, interested in the same issues, or pursuing the same goals. When you already share a common purpose with someone, the rest of the process of conversation and conversion flow more easily.”

Reconnect with and revive your existing network. If you’re like many executives I talk with, you’ve neglected them because you had a job and didn’t think you needed them or you just lost track of them.

This happens to the best of us. It’s okay to circle back to them. Briefly apologize for not re-connecting sooner.

Start compiling a list of people you want to reconnect with. If you don’t know where they are now, search for them on LinkedIn and ask them to join your LinkedIn network. If they’re not there, Google “their name” (in quotes) and find out how to contact them.

Get to know those around you – your co-workers, vendors, customers, and people in other departments.

Reach out to former clients and vendors, professional associations, community groups and lifestyle groups. Check in with people and find out what they’re up to and update them on what you’ve been doing.

Rely on your existing contacts to expand your network. Ask for their referrals and recommendations to their connections at your target companies.

Cultivate and maintain relationships with several executive recruiters in your niche and industry.

Also, check out industry trade shows and conferences, trade publications, and community events.

If you’re several months into a search and already connected with everyone in your circle at the beginning, give it another go.

Career coach Eileen Wolkstein said this in a interview on Forbes:

“You may have been asking unfocused questions when you were at an earlier stage in your search. Since then, you’ve gathered new information and leads and new thoughts about what you want to do.

Be specific in asking for help. Ask them for three good contacts and ask if they’d be willing to talk with those three people on your behalf.

And when asking for help, “If you can’t give a coherent, responsible answer to the question, ‘How can I help you,’ then you don’t have the right to ask for help.”

Cast a far-reaching net to build out your existing executive network with fresh faces.

Here are some places and ways to connect online and in person:

Search online for people who work at your target companies

Find out where they hang out so you can position yourself in front of them. If they’re on Twitter, follow them, and re-tweet them. If they blog, comment on their blog posts in a way that reinforces your brand and promise of value.

LinkedIn

The gold standard for executive networking. If you’re not there already posting and commenting and/or reacting to other people’s posts, participating in Groups, and making connections, it’s time to get busy.

Twitter

Search for hiring decision makers and people who work at your target companies, along with executive recruiters, job search experts, and job boards. They’re tweeting job openings, offering advice and resources, and much more.

Facebook and other social networks

Each one offers its own benefits. Decide how much time you can allot to social networking and which ones will work for you.

Get involved with relevant professional associations

Hobnob with other subject matter experts and thought leaders. Join committees and communicate through their e-lists. Write articles within your areas of expertise for their newsletters and Websites. Mentor a new member and/or less experienced professional.

Connect with more people

Join or start your own job search club. Look for company alumni and military/government “alumni” groups.

Connect on a local level by volunteering

Volunteering in any way and to any extent may put you elbow to elbow with industry-leading decision makers. Or these people may be connected in some way with your target companies or industries.

Tap into your areas of expertise to lead and/or participate in community events, PTA efforts, organization Boards of Directors, fundraising efforts, sports activities, etc.

Don’t forget real-life connecting at networking events

Networking in person comes easy to some but is agony for many, and can be especially stressful for introverts.

Executive job search strategist Erin Kennedy offered these tips in a LinkedIn update to effectively network in person less stressfully:

Choose events wisely. Research to find out what companies will be there. Decide if it is something you’d really like to do.

Get there early. Whether it’s a Zoom meeting or an in-person gathering, the earlier you arrive, chances are there won’t be as many people and you can chat with the few that are there.

Don’t work the room. Plan on talking to five people – more if you are up to it. This way you know you have an “out” but still feel good that you talked to five people.

Ask questions. If you don’t want to talk, listen! Most people like talking about themselves. This is networking without extending too much of yourself – yet the other person ends up thinking you are great!

Who will be there? Research to find out who will be there. Who do you want to talk to? What do they do? How will knowing them help you?

Here are some ice-breakers for introverts that apply to anyone. (The article is no longer available online):

1. This is my first time here. Who do you think I need to meet?
2. I just got here. Did I miss anything?
3. What do you do?
4. How did you get into (whatever their career is)?
5. Do you like it?
6. Where did you get that (fabulous purse? snazzy tie? cool laptop?)?
7. The freeway was like a parking lot this morning. Did you have trouble getting here too?

Tips to keep your executive network happy with you:

Keep in mind that people in your network are probably being tapped by more job seeking connections than ever before for advice and leads. Be kind, take it slow, and practice “give to get” networking.

Approach new contacts with the attitude “how can we help each other?”

Don’t expect favors without giving something in return. Networking that works for everyone is all about helping, sharing, finding common ground, and being a good listener.

Tone down your introduction.

Be sure your personal brand positioning statement – the dreaded “30 second pitch” – doesn’t sound too self-promotional. Make it vibrant, but keep it short and to the point. Practice it many times until it becomes second nature and flows easily.

Be a good listener.

People remember those who give them that boost by being truly interested in what they have to say. Good listeners set themselves up for reciprocity in networking. They’re much more inclined to keep engaged listeners top of mind when they hear of an opportunity that may be a good fit for them.

Nurture relationships by staying in touch.

Call just to say hello, with no hidden agenda. Send birthday, anniversary, and holiday cards by regular mail. Email them with links to blog posts and articles you know they’ll like. Let them know about upcoming industry events, trade shows and other events of interest. Follow them on Twitter and support them by re-tweeting their tweets.

Be friendly and upbeat.

Nobody likes a downer who constantly complains about how bad things are out there.

A few more tips to build and maintain your executive network

• Stay top of mind with your connections by following up regularly.
• Keep track of key new contacts, collect business cards, and jot down pertinent notes immediately afterward to help you frame what you want to say to the people you follow up with.
• Use a system like JibberJobber to manage all your contacts, catalog specifics for each person, and build in reminders for yourself.
• Build visibility by speaking at professional events, publishing articles online, blogging, guest blogging, and commenting on blogs. New, valuable contacts will be drawn to you.
• Try to get yourself in front of hiring decision makers and their circle.
• Arm yourself with industry and company research to help you speak intelligently about trends and issues impacting your target market.
• Build relationships with executives who have similar and different competencies. Look toward forming co-mentorships in which you support each other.

Don’t forget one of the most neglected networking best-practices

Say thank you a lot – in person, on paper, and digitally

Nothing shows your appreciation better than a hand-written, regular-mailed thank you note for an introduction, kindness or special gesture. And remember to extend your thanks and compliments to presenters and contributors at industry events, and anyone whose work was valuable and impressed you.

Your take-away from all these concerted efforts?

Circle back to your established, trusted executive network, while reaching out to new people in new places.

Strategically spreading your personal brand and promise of value across diverse outlets online and offline will link you to opportunities that otherwise may have been invisible to you.

You just never know who may lead you to a key decision maker and when a great opportunity may literally fall in your lap.

FAQs on how to build a powerful executive network

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