Tip #14: How to turn connection calls into referrals
Transform your job search with 20 Job Search Tips in 20 Days
This email is part of a series “20 Job Search Tips in 20 Days”. Every day in December, you’ll receive a job search tip for career changers.
Job Search Tip #14: How to turn connection calls into referrals
Connection calls are the best tools in networking. Connecting with another person over Zoom or in real life can be enlightening, fun, and energizing. Although Zoom calls can be challenging sometimes due to the fear of meeting new people, however, after a few calls, you can even make the process fun. Meeting people who can help you get a foothold in the tech industry can help you build connections at a time when you might feel alone in the job search.
When you share who you are through a connection call, you create a real-life connection with someone, so they feel they ‘know’ you, even if it’s just a bit. To make the connection call most effective, you can come prepared with a few standard questions, but keep the conversation open to sharing about yourself and asking more details about them, so you can build a real human connection first and foremost.
A connection call is usually 20-30 min, sometimes it can run longer to 40-60min, but usually, it’s meant to be a brief intro about the person’s opinions on their profession. Use this time to create a real connection with another human being, show curiosity and openness.
The beauty of connection calls is that you can ask for support right on the call, or right after the call. First, establish a human connection, share some things about yourself, and learn about the other person. Then use this process to ask for help in your job search.
The 4-step approach to turn connection calls into referrals:
Ask questions about the role
Share details about your work experience
Ask if the person is part of the hiring team
Based on their reply, ask for support in the form of a referral or intro to someone
At the end of your call, express gratitude, and follow up with a thank you note.
Ways to ask for support, including referrals:
Are you open to providing a referral for a role I saw posted?
Do you know anything about the open role in engineering/design/etc?
Can you provide an intro to one other person in your network?
Can you recommend any learning resources such as podcasts, books, or industry leaders I can follow?
Connection calls are one of the best ways to learn about working in tech while building a real network of people who can help you. They can help you get important information about companies and referrals for open roles.
Learn how Aiden turned networking into referrals:
To everyone job searching during the holidays… you got this, keep going 🌟
If you missed them, here are 3 previous tips: