The Worst LinkedIn Message Ever

Hello Sultan, I met you at XXX a few years ago and I am looking to make a career move. If you see anything that fits my profile please send it my way.

Translation:

I'm too lazy to know what your company does, to have kept in touch, what positions I'm interested in & qualified for.

When was the last time you connected with someone on LinkedIn or a met someone at a networking event that could actually hire you or get your resume directly in front of a Hiring Manager? Did you do anything to follow up with them?

This week is a short Holiday Week. To celebrate, why not focus on your networking efforts by sending out a few LinkedIn Messages to professionals with whom you’d like to connect? Networking emails are a great strategy for any Military Professional's job search. By following these tips, you’ll build more effective relationships and even make connections that could lead to future job opportunities, whether you're looking for work now or transitioning more than six months from now.

Email is still one of the most effective ways to connect with people, especially when 91 percent of people check their email every day. If you’re hoping to grow your network this Holiday season, here are five tips for writing LinkedIn messages or emails that get responses:

1. The first word in Social Networking is “Social.”

First things first, never start a networking email with “we met a few years ago” and then ask immediately for a favor. This is one of the most impersonal ways to address a person. Networking emails are meant to build your social capital, so be friendly with your approach. If you feel stuck when introducing yourself (because you haven't kept in touch or neglected to follow up), there are a few things you can do.

First, take the time to look at the person’s profile on LinkedIn. Most professionals are proud of what their company does. Research to see if that company has made the news in a positive way recently, the use that information.

When you’re ready to write your email, here’s an example of how you can format your introduction:

Hi Sultan,

You may not remember me but we met a few years ago and connected on LinkedIn. I saw that you're now at Newport News Shipbuilding and that you guys just (insert notable news item here).

2. Build Your Social Capital.

A great way to stand out from the typical Military Transitioner or Job Seeker is to have an approach that’s different than they have. Did your recipient make a career move, furthered their education or shared great posts or content? Bingo, use that info to warm up your introduction. This is a great way to show you’ve done some research and that you’re genuinely interested in building a relationship with the person.

For example:

Hi Sultan,

You may not remember me but we met a few years ago and connected on LinkedIn. I saw that you're now at Newport News Shipbuilding and that you guys just (insert notable news item here).

I saw your article published on GI Jobs about “10 Things Not to Freak Out About During Your Military Transition” for Military Professionals and thought it offered some great advice.

3. Be concise.

Let’s face it – our attention span these days is less than that of a goldfish. No one has time these days to read through an email that takes more than a minute to read.

When sending a networking email, it’s extremely important you keep it short and sweet. Recruiters receive at least 120 emails per day. Once I open your email, I should be able to skim through it and respond within a minute or two.

Here are a few essentials your networking LinkedIn message should touch upon:

?Introduce yourself and key in to the recipient’s interests (such as their job or their company)

?Why you reaching out to them (preferably outside the interest of getting a job).

?A call to action. For example: Do you want to meet for coffee or set up a phone interview?

?Finally, politely close your email.

For example:

Hi Sultan, You may not remember me but we met a few years ago and connected on LinkedIn. I saw that you're now at Newport News Shipbuilding and that you guys just (insert notable news item here).

I recently saw that you guys had a XXXX position posted that seems to be a perfect fit given my background and your qualifications. I have applied and would appreciate any insight that you could provide. If you can't that's okay, I would still love to catch up via phone or a cup of coffee.

Here's the best time and number to connect with me (XXXX). By the way, if there are any critical skillsets that you're looking for please let me know and I'll be happy to refer anyone in my network whom I'd personally recommend.

Regards,

Military Professional

4. You’ve Won- A Subject Line That Matters.

If you've done your homework and actually have your LinkedIn connection's email, a direct email is another effective option (for your network who aren't on LinkedIn regularly).

One of the biggest challenges of sending a networking email is actually getting people to open them. You’ve got to grab my attention with a subject line that is relevant and makes me want to read further. This is your opportunity to make a positive first impression and literally puts your message in the “reply” or “delete” folders as appropriate.

Here are some example of effective networking email subject lines:

?Newport News Shipbuilding Doing Great Things

?Long Overdue-Following Up With You

?The Courtesy of Your Time- Joe Sailor 

5. Be patient, yet persistent.

So, after you send a LinkedIn message or networking email, give the recipient 7 to 10 days to get back to you. There’s one letter difference between “talking” and “stalking.”

I know that you’re all too aware that it’s easy for emails to get lost in inboxes. This period gives the recipient enough time to go through their inbox and get back to you. If they don’t get back to you, then it’s appropriate to send a follow-up email coupled with a phone call or voice message if possible.

Hiring really slows down during the Holidays in some industries, but it's an amazing time to build and reinvigorate your Professional Network, if you take the time to do it effectively.

Any other tips? Feel free to share.