Don’t make this common mistake when reaching out to people over email.
To get ahead in your career, you need a strong online grid.
And part of that means learning how to email people for their time and connections.
Heres their advice:
The rudest thing you could do?
Assume everyone is OK with being contacted for help.
The first thing is, you have to ask yourself, Who wants what from whom?
said William Schwalbe, co-author ofSend: Why People Email So Badly And How To Do It Better.
Delighted to make this introduction, I thought you would enjoy getting to know each other.
But often an introduction email is about asking one party to do something on behalf of another.
People are busy or unavailable for many reasons you may not know.
No one likes being surprised with a task they did not agree to do.
it’s possible for you to end this email with a line like: P.S.
In the actual email, dont be vague.
Explain who everyone is and outline the next steps.
Mark is a recent college grad who is hoping to learn more about breaking into marine biology research.
A good broker makes it easy for everyone to understand what the next steps are.
If youre the person seeking the introduction, dont dilly-dally on a reply.
It shows your enthusiasm, interest and that you dont take this opportunity for granted, Schwalbe said.
That said, I completely understand if time doesnt allow for this kind of conversation.
If you are available, hey let me know what times would be best in your schedule.
If you dont hear back, do not immediately follow up.
This way, you give people enough time to respond if they are on vacation or busy.
Its polite to keep your broker posted, regardless of the outcome.
If something comes of it, the asker really should loop back, Schwalbe said.
When youre seeking help, be sensitive to how often you ask your broker for help.
Recognize that not everything needs to be an email.
Emails are great for coordinating schedules and making introductions, but they are ultimately words in an inbox.
Showing sincere appreciation for someones help means going one step further.
An email thank-you, no matter how extravagantly phrased, is still just an email, Schwalbe said.
Schwalbe gave the example of someones connection being the reason you land a job.
