Following Up with a Lead

How do you approach a networking lead? Is it better to email or call?

Answer

I would send an email introducing yourself and how you came to have this person’s email, then follow (quickly) with a call.  If you hear nothing in four or five days, I would call again.  There are pluses and minuses to both.  With email, you have a chance to proofread your pitch, but you never know whether that person reads or even gets your email.  With the phone, you may get the person immediately and have to dive into your pitch that moment.  Of course, if the person is hard to reach, getting on the phone may be your only chance to talk, so the immediacy of the phone can be an advantage.

For those of you who are shy and would rather not make the connection, remember that a networking lead is just that and you won’t be asking this person for a job. You are making a connection that can help you make other connections. It’s just that simple. So bring the anxiety level down and contact that person. These leads can be extremely valuable so treat them like gold.

Connie Thanasoulis is co-founder of SixFigureStart, a success-coaching firm that equips college students and young professionals with the skills and knowledge essential to ensuring success early on in their careers. She comes from 25 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies, including Merrill Lynch, Pfizer, and Citigroup.

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