How do you ask for help in networking?

1 Know your goal

Before you ask for help in networking, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you need advice, feedback, referrals, introductions, or something else? Having a specific and realistic goal will help you narrow down your potential contacts, craft your message, and show your value. It will also make it easier for the other person to understand how they can help you and what you expect from them.

2 Do your research

Once you have identified your goal and your target contacts, you need to do some research on them. Find out as much as you can about their background, interests, expertise, and current projects. This will help you tailor your request to their situation, show your genuine interest, and avoid asking for something they cannot or will not provide. You can use their LinkedIn profile, website, blog, social media, or mutual connections as sources of information.

3 Be respectful and polite

Asking for help in networking requires a balance between being assertive and respectful. You need to express confidence and enthusiasm, but also humility and gratitude. You should be direct and concise while remaining polite and courteous. To avoid sounding demanding, entitled, or presumptuous, you should also avoid being vague, timid, or apologetic. To be respectful and polite when asking for help, use a warm and friendly tone, address the person by their name and title, explain how you found them and why you chose them, compliment their work or achievements, acknowledge their time and expertise, use words like please, thank you, appreciate, and value, provide options and flexibility, and avoid making assumptions or imposing expectations.

4 Be specific and clear

When asking for help in networking, you need to be specific and clear about what you want, why you want it, and how the other person can help you. You need to provide enough details and context to make your request relevant and meaningful, but not too much to overwhelm or bore them. You need to state your goal, your reason, and your desired outcome clearly and concisely. You also need to indicate what kind of help you are looking for, whether it is a phone call, a meeting, a referral, an introduction, or something else. You need to make it easy for the other person to say yes, or at least to respond.

5 Offer value and reciprocity

Asking for help in networking is not a one-way street. You also need to offer value and reciprocity to the other person. You need to show them what you can offer them in return for their help, whether it is your skills, knowledge, connections, or resources. You need to demonstrate how you can add value to their goals, interests, or challenges. You also need to express your willingness to help them in the future, or to pay it forward to someone else. You need to make them feel that helping you is not a burden, but a benefit.

Asking for help in networking can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. By following these tips, you can ask for help in networking effectively and respectfully, and build stronger and more mutually beneficial relationships.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?