How to Use Networking to Advance in Finance

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

“Networking is awkward.” You know what’s more awkward? Graduating in May 2025 and applying to 127 jobs with… zero callbacks. Let’s fix that with networking ideas no one’s talking about. and I mean actionable.. 1. “Reverse Research” Your Way Into a Conversation Instead of asking people what they do, show them what you know about what they’ve done. How to do it: Find someone on LinkedIn in your target company/role Read their posts, podcasts, or panels they’ve been on Then send this message: “Hi [Name], I came across your [talk/article/post] on [topic]—your point about [insight] made me think differently. I’m researching [industry], and would love to hear your take on [specific follow-up]. Would it be okay to connect?” That’s conversation built on respect. 2. Book Club for Industry Geeks Start a virtual book or podcast club for your industry. Invite professionals to speak at the end of each cycle. How to do it: Pick 3 peers + 1 book or podcast Create a simple calendar (4 weeks = 4 touchpoints) End with a “Wrap-Up” Zoom chat—invite a guest Post your takeaways on LinkedIn and tag them Because learning together? Is the strongest way to network. 3. Write A “Public Thank You” Post on LinkedIn You probably learned something cool from someone recently. Now imagine you posted it publicly, gave them a shoutout, and showed how you applied it. How to do it: Tag the person Share what they taught you Share what you did next Ask your network, “What’s something YOU learned from someone this month?” You just gave free visibility, created a loop, and 10 people will want to talk to you after. 4. Turn Informational Chats into Co-Creation Networking chats often stop at “thanks for the time.” What if it didn’t? What to do: After the call, send a note: “Hey [Name], based on our chat about [topic], I drafted a small idea to build on your advice. Would love your thoughts!” Create a graphic, short write-up, or project plan (just 1 page!) Now you’re not just a student. You’re someone they collaborated with. That’s relationship-building, not just networking. 5. The 5-5-5 Strategy Most people get stuck on who to reach out to. Here’s a weekly formula: 5 People You Admire (Founders, creatives) 5 People From Your School Network (Alums, professors, guest speakers) 5 Peers Who Are Also Job Hunting (Build a support circle, swap leads) Message all 15. Repeat weekly. That’s 156 conversations in 3 months. You don’t “find” jobs—you build the path to them. Reminder: Networking isn’t about who has the fanciest title. It’s about who remembers you when an opportunity comes up. Be the person who listened, learned, shared, and followed up. If you’re reading this and job searching— try one new method this week. Not next month. Not when it feels “less scary.” Now. You’re not late. #May2025Grads #NetworkingTips #CreativeCareerMoves #JobSearchStrategy #InternationalStudents #GradJobHunt #BeyondTheResume #HumanConnection #Topmate

47 recruiter ghosts, 0 responses, 1 twelve-step messaging system that changed everything. As an introvert, I've never really enjoyed networking. It took me years to become good at it. 4 years ago, I was the guy sending "Would love to connect" messages into the void. Senior data scientists? Ignored. Hiring managers? Read but no response. Even junior engineers were ghosting me. I almost quit. Felt completely alone. The voice inside me told me: "No one cares about you" or "You're not good enough." But then I had a realization:  𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲. So I flipped the script. Built a system. Treated it like engineering. Here's the 12-step framework that changed everything for me:  1. 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 > 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 - Target 5-10 people who can actually move your career  2. 𝗗𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 "𝗠𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁" - Leading with asks kills trust instantly. Lead with value.  3. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿 - You can't withdraw if you haven't deposited  4. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 - Celebrate their wins, share valuable resources, connect them with someone  5. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 - Find connection clues in their content  6. 𝟭𝟬 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 - List 10 ways to add value (the good ideas come after the envious points)  7. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 - Rank by success likelihood and execution ease  8. 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 - Try the 1st outreach idea, try the 2nd, then the 3rd. Many relationships start on the 3rd touchpoint.  9. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 - Keep showing up without asking for anything 10. 𝗠𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 - Great networking is about alignment, not charm. Find ways where both of you benefit. 11. 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 - Your network is a living asset 12. 𝗕𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻 - Show your work so you're top-of-mind I’ve used this system to grow a network that’s led to projects, collaborations, and opportunities I couldn’t have cold-applied into. (Oh, and got 90+ interviews in 90 days. Yes, really.) People who used to ignore my messages started reaching out to ME. That's the power of systematic networking. Your resume gets you past HR. Your network gets you the job. Stop begging for coffee chats. Start building relationships that build careers. If you’re stuck sending resumes into a void, networking isn’t just an option; it’s the only option. Follow me, Jaret André to land your next dream $100K+ data job ASAP. PS. If you're struggling with networking to get your job in the US or Canada, DM me. PPS. I'm happy to help, but please keep in mind that I can only accept 3 more clients this month.