Networking Pro-Tip: Orchestrate Some Networking Serendipity

True networking serendipity is being recommended by someone else.

Let me explain.

Earlier in my career - as in very early, barely out of law school - I was staffed on a piece of litigation as part the larger restructuring of a leading commercial real estate company. Many many lawyers from many many firms were involved in this restructuring. The serendipity for me - as a result of many court appearances, pre-hearing conference calls and negotiations etc. etc. - was getting a job offer from attorneys at a bigger, better firm when the case was over.

Fast forward to mid-career as I was looking to transition out of the practice of law and into the management of lawyers. One job rejection led to an incredible career mentor who forwarded job leads and spoke of my credentials every chance she had. The serendipity however, was the result of another rejection. Yup, didn't land the job at one firm, however, when the interviewer landed the top role at another firm a few months later, she brought me in as the only candidate for an unadvertised job opening.

It was fortunate that I interviewed with great people who saw my talents and I came into every interview uber prepared. Yes, I was disappointed each time I heard "sorry, we've chosen someone else for the role" and I didn't turn my back on those connections once the rejection was dealt!

As I note in Build Your Dream Network:
 
This is another unsexy part about networking: consistent actions produce results more often than serendipitous encounters with a dream client on an airplane. Think sit-ups: consistency is where the networking commitment hits the road to networked success.
 
My networking serendipity for landing the law firm management job was manufactured via follow-up emails. After the rejection, a thank you email for considering me for the role, then asking for guidance on where they saw weaknesses in my skill set (as I was making a career transition, I took the time between jobs to invest in the skills I needed for my future career). Asking for guidance opened the networking door wider! It lead to additional recommendations (which are great excuses to circle back, and chat some again, which strengthens a connection....) and introductions...and so forth, and so on...to ultimately, getting the job.
 
A suggestion or two on how to manufacture some networking serendipity in your own career:

💡 Send follow-up communications! Especially when the recipient is someone who has rejected you for a role.

💡 Take advantage of “water cooler” moments in your office, regular coffee shop or co-working space. That is, join in a conversation while you’re waiting for your tea to brew, or stop to eat lunch with colleagues.

💡 Find opportunities to showcase your skills in front of a bigger audience. Volunteer. Take ownership of a project. Circulate your takeaways from an industry conference to your colleagues. Raise your hand to participate in a focus group or write the final report or conduct a lunch & learn.

💡 Collaborative “water-cooler moments” have been magical and serendipitous for entrepreneur Tina Roth Eisenberg: Tina launched several of her businesses as a result of sharing and hashing out ideas around the lunch room table. Tina shares her community building wisdom at page 113 of Build Your Dream Network.

Need more?

Take a listen to Networking At Work With Anna Maria Chavez on the For Future Reference podcast (not only for the Build Your Dream Network shout-out at 25:07 of the episode) - as this conversation is jam packed with timeless career networking gems. Anna Maria Chavez is former CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA - so a mic drop moment that she would mention Build Your Dream Network.

🗝️ Complete the network audit in Chapter 2 of The Social Billionaire (my next book!) to discover where you can orchestrate a little networking serendipity.