The Importance of Online Networking: Getting Started
By now, you've probably heard about the significance of networking for law students and young professionals. As a mentor to numerous NCA and Law students over the past year, I've emphasized its importance. However, effective networking can seem challenging in our current pandemic climate, where large gatherings are prohibited, and people are mostly indoors. Fortunately, living in the internet age offers various ways to connect with others, even over great distances. Nevertheless, online networking presents its own set of challenges and requires slightly different skills compared to in-person networking.
Having experienced conducting 90% of my Canadian legal articling recruitment while studying and working in the UK, online networking is not unfamiliar to me. I didn't have the luxury of attending in-person networking events or meeting Toronto lawyers for coffee before applying to firms' articling programs. Instead, I dedicated a significant amount of time online and on the phone, engaging with lawyers and student recruiters to build valuable connections.
To assist you during this challenging time, I will share my top tips for effective online networking over the next two posts. Today, we will begin by covering the basics of preparing for networking, including refining your online presence and creating email templates.
Polishing Your Online Presence:
In the physical world, the cut of your suit or dress makes the first impression. Similarly, in online networking, your online presence plays a vital role. Admit it, like me and everyone else, you've probably joined a video call wearing a nice top and sweatpants at some point, but you wouldn't dare dress like that for an in-person networking event or coffee meetup!
Likewise, your online presence should exude polish and professionalism, as this may be the first impression your connection gets when you reach out to them online. Ensure that every platform you use for networking, such as LinkedIn (which I highly recommend having), Skype, Zoom, and your email account, reflects your professionalism.
A Professional Head Shot: Avoid using selfies or glamour shots. Your photo should resemble the type you see on lawyer-profile pages of firm websites. It doesn't need to be professionally taken; a portrait mode on your iPhone can suffice. However, make sure you are dressed professionally, the background is uncluttered, and the photo is taken from the shoulders up.
Current and Truthful Information: Ensure any information you post on professional platforms like LinkedIn is current and accurate. Your LinkedIn profile should align with your official resume and should not include outdated work experiences unless they are highly relevant to your desired field.
Aim for Uniformity: Your name and photo should be consistent across all platforms you use for networking and communication. For example, if you use a middle initial or an "English Name" on LinkedIn, make sure the same initial or name is used for your email account (e.g., in your Gmail settings) and reflected in your resume and cover letter heading. Additionally, the photo you use on LinkedIn should be the same one you use for your professional email profile and other communication tools like WhatsApp, Signal, Zoom, Skype, etc. Remember, some people remember faces better than names, and this remains true in online networking.
Preparing to Send Emails:
Most likely, you will initiate contact with potential connections through email or messaging services. It's crucial to ensure that these emails/messages are well-written, genuine, and free of typos. If you are unsure how to start, I highly recommend looking at "informational interviewing" email templates, which you can use as a foundation for building your own templates, tailored to each contact as needed. Many university career centers offer useful examples for reference, including Harvard and my very own NYU (see pg. 96).
Having a template to begin with can reduce the energy required to write messages, but, as I will discuss in my next post, you should still customize your communications for each recipient.
Additionally, set up a professional email signature that automatically attaches to every email sent from your intended professional account. Keep the name consistent with the one used on your LinkedIn profile.
Here's an example to get you started:
Tiffany [Middle Initial]. [Last Name]
New York University School of Law, LL.M 2020
City University of London (UK), LL.B 2018
[LinkedIn Profile Link]
Note: I haven't included my email address in the signature as it's redundant in the email context. You may choose to include a phone number if desired.
I have, however, included my LinkedIn profile link, as this can subtly showcase your resume without attaching a PDF document, which may come across as presumptuous in your first introduction email. Additionally, it provides recipients with an easy way to learn more about you.
If you follow these tips, you'll be well-prepared to embark on your online networking journey. In my next post, I will share tips on finding connections and initiating genuine and effective conversations with them.
Until next time!
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