7-% of positions are filled as a result of networking. 70% of those (49%) are filled as a result of introductions to people your network knows who you don’t.

Here’s what to ask when you’re networking (Originally recorded for LinkedIn)

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I'm Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. I'm a career and leadership coach. I worked in executive recruiting for more than 40 years, filled tons of positions over the course of my career. And what I try and do with these videos and others at JobSearchTV.com is take the mythology out of job search because I have the perspective of having actually worked in that field for as long as I have. So, what I try and do is explain a lot of the things that occur in a search so that you don't have to make dumb mistakes that prove so costly.

Now, this one is a little bit different in that I'm talking about networking and the most important question you could learn to ask. Now, there's a flip to the question, but let me just start off with the basic question.

You're in a networking situation. You're talking to someone who you know, like, trust, respect. Maybe they're a former boss, or maybe they're a friend, former colleague, whoever it is. You're trying to get some advice. Please do not refer to this as "pick your brain." It's not a scab to be picked at. "I can use some advice. Can I get a few minutes of your time?" Let's talk English again. Let's talk plainly instead of using stupid phrases like, "pick your brain."

"So I'd like a little bit of advice. Can I get a few minutes of your time? Phone, Skype, however it is, or I'll bring a cup of coffee, whatever works for you." They make the time for the call. And now you have an idea of what you want to be doing. And you're laying it out for them. And your first question And this is a basic in recruiting is, "Who do you know who (Who's in that field? Who does that kind of work? Who I could speak to about what it's like to work in the industry)? You're looking for an introduction to someone else, someone who they know.

Why? Well, the statistics bear out that 70% of positions are filled as a result of networking. 70% of the 70% (or 49%) come as a result of introductions to people that your network knows who you don't. So you always want to move past the people that you know, to the people who they know who you don't. So, the question is, "who do you know who . . ." is the way it begins.

Now, the flip, the extra thing that you might ask is, "I have the idea I'd like to work in. . . . " I'll give you some classic examples. "I want to work in media and entertainment. I've been working in financial services up until this point. What could go wrong in exploring this? what might not work for someone like me in this circumstance? Where can it break down for me?" Something along those lines that allows you to hear where they would be concerned about you making this change?

Why? If you ask them, "What do you think," they always say, "hey, sounds great." But here you are asking for very specific advice. And you're looking for where the failure might occur, where the problem or rough edge might be, that could interfere with you, fulfilling the aspiration that you have.

Getting that input in advance allows you to prepare for it, to think about it, so that, in this way, you have a chance to be ready should that objection occur.

So, I'm Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter. I hope you found this helpful. Visit my website, TheBigGameHunter.us. Go to the site. I've got thousands of videos, podcasts, articles I've written that you can watch, listen to or read that will help you find work more quickly.

In addition, if you're interested in one on one coaching, you can message me through this site. We'll set up a free discovery call. Ultimately, if I'm involved with coaching you, I'm going to be direct with you, I don't work for free. Okay? So respect my time if you have no interest in coaching, and you just want input, it's unfair, it's unkind.

So, hope you have a great day and take care.


Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching, all as well as executive job search coaching, job coaching and interview coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1700 episodes and “The No BS Coaching Advice Podcast” and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com is also a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.




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