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Your Linkedin Network Isn’t Working
How my efforts for an interview can teach you the true value of your professional ecosystem and how to utilize it.
I recently found myself with an incredible opportunity. An interview with a startup in the city I wanted to live in. The interview included a case study that required my understanding of people holding positions I’ve never held, in a field I am far from familiar with. To gain insight, I turned to Linkedin. I sent invitations to 100 people who met the minimal criteria. Most of these invitations were accepted. To each person, I sent a message explaining my situation and requesting that they allow me to ask them 5 questions so that I could gain some direction for this project. Not one responded. The lack of response isn’t something new to me. I’ve worked in sales before. Specifically, in the beer industry in Georgia. Even when you’re offering free delicious booze, people still don’t want to talk to you.
Prospecting The Target Audience
I began going through my immediate connections on my phone. Who did I know that held similar positions in different industries? Eventually, one person had time to talk with me on the phone and shared his insight. He said the biggest challenge in their position was having the person they were reaching out to respond. I then messaged a friend who connected me with one of…