Apple Betty Cobbler Networking
Apple Betty Cobbler is pretty easy to make! If we follow the same sort of steps, networking is as well.
Apple is the key ingredient. Everything else accentuates the flavor and the enjoyment of the apple. The goal is the apple.
Networking is the same. The goal is to get to the key people that make the decisions, in this case the apple.
The Betty is a soft pudding that surrounds the apples. This represents the people that surround the decision maker; they can soften up the decision maker concerning a meeting with you.
The Cobbler is the crust that tops the Apple Betty. It can be made several ways. It can be like a pie crust or like a crumble. This represents deciding who your target market is and finding people you know who work in that industry or know someone who does.
First Steps
Find your target companies and start asking people if they know anyone who works there. Once you begin to find people who know of someone, or do work there you are ready to start your progress!
Ask the cobbler, or C people the key questions:
How is your company doing right now? What kind of positions does a company such as yours have? If I decided I wanted to learn more about a particular area of your company who would you suggest I contact? Can I use your name? Tell me a little about them. How do you suggest I contact them? What are the things I should know before I speak with them?
Getting an appointment and talking to Betty, or B
Call on the phone or write a letter, depending on the status of the person. “I was talking to C and he suggested I contact you.”
Follow with the funnel questions formula found on page 3
After you learn the answers to the funnel question and you are still interested in the company, it is time to get an appointment with a decision maker, the APPLE or A!
Follow the same routine and ask the same questions. If you are interested in a job with this company, say, “I am really impressed by everything I have learned about this company. If I was interested in working here, what would you suggest I do?”
Ask Funnel Questions
(Broad based questions first and slowly narrow down to key issues or challenges facing the industry and solutions tried.)
Ben suggested I talk to you today about your business. Is it okay if we talk for about 15 minutes and I ask you questions about your business and the challenges you face?
You are a large internet retail company, how large are you and do you have a store front as well?
What seems to be the products that sell the best?
Does it change seasonally or based on the economy?
Have the recent economic problems impacted you?
What solutions are you working on to solve the challenge?
What other challenges do you face?
What solutions are you focusing on?
If I was interested in working for your company, what would you suggest I do?
When you use this formula to network with people it improves the quality of the interview and provides more employment opportunities. The important thing to remember is to DO IT! People who network find jobs much faster than people who don’t.
My next column will be about Networking for the Shy!
Best wishes in your transition!