Follow Up on All Outstanding Networking Outreach
One well-timed follow-up sent 10 days after an initial message significantly increases your response rate. Most people do not follow up at all. Doing so demonstrates persistence and professionalism while putting your name in front of the person a second time.
One well-timed follow-up sent 10 days after an initial message significantly increases your response rate. Most people do not follow up at all. Doing so demonstrates persistence and professionalism while putting your name in front of the person a second time.
Step by Step
Open your tracker and find all outreach sent 10 or more days ago with no response
Send a brief follow-up to each one Template: "Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on my message from [approximate date]. I completely understand if timing has not worked out. I remain very interested in connecting if an opportunity comes up. Thank you either way."
Mark anyone who still does not respond after this follow-up as closed Do not contact the same person more than twice. Move your energy toward responsive people.
Send thank you messages to anyone you have spoken with recently If you completed any informational interviews or networking calls in the past two weeks and have not sent a follow-up thank you, do it today. Be specific about something they said that was useful.
Tips for success
A specific thank you that references something from the conversation is far more memorable than a generic one. It shows you were genuinely listening.
Keep follow-ups warm and brief. Never express impatience or frustration at a slow response.