Just Met a Great Professional Contact? Here’s How to Keep the Relationship From Going Cold

There are so many opportunities available for students who want to develop their professional networks that it might almost feel too easy to show up to a networking event or tweet at someone and feel like you’ve made a new contact.

Building these connections, however, takes more than just attending the right events; if ignored, once-valuable contacts can easily fade away as if you’d never met. For students, it is essential to take the right steps in ensuring that a network remains strong, both while in school and beyond.

1. Grab Some Form of Contact Information Upon First Meeting

Before you walk away from the conversation with a new professional contact, whether it’s online or in person, always ask for a business card, an email address, or another online profile where you can connect.

Remember: You want to be able to turn online connections into regular, in-real-life ones, so by having multiple forms of contact, you’re putting yourself in a better spot. Plus, most people are more receptive to one form of communication over others, so figuring out which one that is can be crucial to maintaining a professional relationship.

2. Get in Touch Within 24 Hours of Meeting

A first impression is great, but your second impression is honestly just as valuable. If your connection has handed over his or her information to you, it is now your job to initiate and maintain the conversation.

Do this by sending an email (use our template here!) within a day of having met each other. Remind the person quickly where you met and add a note of what struck you as interesting from your conversation. You don’t want your connection forgetting about you or losing whatever initial interest that might have made you memorable.

This would also be the perfect time to set up an in-person meeting, if that’s possible. Again, it’s important to get those face-to-face interactions if you can help it; if you’re looking for some quick advice, even a Google Hangout or Skype session works!

3. Make Sure to Check in at Least Every Three to Four Months (If Not Sooner)

You definitely don’t need to be checking in every day or week (that’s so much work!), but it’s important to maintain a steady stream of contact with all of your connections. Follow them on social media and interact with their posts by leaving thoughtful and relevant comments. Sending the occasional “how are you?” email is a great way to keep you on their radar.

This is also an essential step to take if you wish to reconnect with old contacts made in previous years, especially earlier in your college career.

Take some time today and get in touch with those connections you may not have talked to in a while, and prepare to keep your network strong. Valuable relationships are tough to come by sometimes, so be sure to cherish and develop them with intention.

Raquel Serrano

Share
Published by
Raquel Serrano

Recent Posts

Discover How Spectrum Interns Turned Their Experience into Full-Time Careers 

The job or internship search can feel like a rollercoaster, filled with thrilling highs— like…

3 weeks ago

The Launchpad for Leaders: How the Kohl’s Store Leadership Programs are Setting Up Early Professionals for Success

Calling all undergrads and recent grads: kickstart your career with Kohl's! Finding the right path…

3 weeks ago

Beyond the Books: Mentorship and Guidance with BDO’s Pathway to Success Program

Deciding on a career path can be daunting, especially for students early in their post-secondary…

3 weeks ago

Building Your Career at BlackRock While Powering a New Era of Investment Management Tech

BlackRock is a global asset manager and a leading provider of investment, advisory, and risk…

1 month ago

Inspiring Career Growth at Synchrony

Early career opportunities vary from summer internships and externships to entry-level positions. When exploring possibilities…

3 months ago

Graduate School: Post-Grad Plans or a Career Change Later in Life?

For some, going back to school after graduating college sounds like a nightmare. For others,…

3 months ago