Keeping your network updated during your job search is one of the most powerful things you can do to:
Stay top of mind with your network for opportunities they see
Maintain contact so you can reach out for help with introductions
You’ve probably experienced someone do this at a world-class level before and even if you weren’t able to help them, you appreciate their sincerity and approach.
While the power of keeping your network engaged in your job search is obvious to most people, very few job searches do this because it requires a lot of effort to execute. This article provides a guide on how to keep your network updated in your search… and beyond.
Who to include and how to add them to your updates
You don’t need to have a perfect list to start. You can add / update your network list along the way. The most important thing is to take the first step with a small group. Some great buckets of people to add to your list include people who:
Have helped you before in your journey
You have worked with before
Have strong networks where you have started to build a relationship
"Who are those people that you have just clicked with over the arc of your career? They are much more likely to help you and ... and they probably have shared values with you so that they will be a decent proxy for you in the market. You might overlay that with 'are they relatively plugged in.' Once you have this list put these 10-20 people on a every 2 week rotation of where you are checking in with them" Adam Ward @ Growth by Design Talent (see podcast)
You don’t want to add people to a mailing list without first asking. Some great ways to engage them include:
When you chat with someone ask if you can keep them updated on your search. Make sure when you connect with people you are clear in your focus and specific.
Tickle them on LinkedIn and share you are looking for your next role
Format for updates
These updates don’t need to be long. They can be quick. Some tips include:
Personal: Â You will send these updates at scale (see below on how to do that) so make sure not to make them casual and informal.
Reiterate your focus: Clarity in your search helps people help you. Remind people of your focus role and superpower
Progress:  People love to help people who are making progress. Include quick insights on activity + learnings / progress
Make it easy for people to help you: Always include a link to companies you are targeting that people can help with introductions
NETWORK UPDATE TEMPLATE |
Hello xxxx , Here is a quick update on my job search for [role title] Since [we chatted / my last update…], I have [insert relevant activities here]. I have learned [insight / lesson] Here are a companies [link to target company list] I’m actively targeting - if you know folks at any I love intros Thanks for your support - let me know if I can help in your journey too. Thank you – [Your Name] |
How to send updates
We recommend you send an update every ~8 weeks. While you can send manually this ends up being intimidating leading people to skip or delay updating their network. We’ve evaluated different solutions to send mail merges from your gmail account and recommend Mailmeteor based on:
Security: Â Most others require access to all your emails, Mailmeteor only requires the ability to send, not see your emails and limits their access to Google Sheets you share with them
Price:Â They have cost effective options.
When you send updates you will get a lot of quick replies with support and learn quickly which people you can ask for help/assistance. Always reply to those thanking them and if you have quick asks to make helping easy those work well.
Once you have found your role
This powerful way to leverage your network doesn’t just work for job searches. It can be a powerful tool for your career. Once you have found your job we recommend:
Sending an update and thank you to your list
Removing people from the list who you didn’t build relationships with / weren’t helpful
Then you can continue to use the list to send annual updates - the holidays are a great time. These updates are less about asking for help and more about staying in touch and finding ways you can give back to your network.
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