Don't be a Jerk: Contacts and Connections

Contacts are people.

If you want them to remember you well, be respectful and don't act as if they are inexhaustible gold mines that can be pushed to hire or commission you. Most people want to help you and will do what they can to either commission your services or set you up with someone who can. Even if they can't use you at the moment, they could possibly in the future.

Most contacts aren't instant work.

For people you met at a career fair, don't call them all the time. Constant checking in is actually counterproductive. The people that come to these events are already overloaded with emails and calls. Don't expect them to remember you personally right away. Remind them of the highlights of your conversation and your strengths as a way of jogging their memory, but keep it down to a couple sentences. Ask them about projects they had mentioned (if they did not mention anything, look them up online to see what they are currently working on). Check in with them a couple times, but if you don't get any response after a two or three times it may a good idea to give them some time.


Treat a contact as though they are a formal version of a friend, hopefully this is what they will grow to be.

Only cold call if necessary, these sporadic conversations tend to make everyone uncomfortable. Try to build an actual human relationship with people you want to keep in contact with. You know, the type of relationship that would make someone want to keep up with you and your work. Keep sending emails to check in with people from a Career Fair, but ask them if you can put them on a newsletter. Not only is this a more permanent and positive image, but it is also much more professional than being one of hundreds pleading to them for jobs on a biweekly basis.

Always ask before adding someone to your newsletter, and keep introductory emails short.

A long email describing every virtue you have is not likely to attract new contacts.

In short, treat contacts how you would want to be treated, and treat them online as you would in person. Many people see someone they meet on the internet as a place as a tool for success instead of a human being. The same applies to Career Fairs and similar opportunities. Be concise, remind them why they were interested in you, let them know how they can benefit from working with you, and ask them about current projects.


Checklist for Contact Etiquette:

1. Don't cold call unless necessary (especially repeatedly). 
2. Don't email the same email thing more than once. If individual emails to someone seem inappropriate, ask if they would like to be added to your mailing list and send relevant quarterly updates. 
3. Make honest, relevant, and concise conversation. 
4. Be patient. See contacts in long term, not short term. 
5. Be open to unlikely sources. 

When you get a job be friendly, professional, deliver work on time and in the correct format etc. 

Future work relies on good work and good communication

Checklist for your Professional Hit List:

1. Make a spreadsheet of all known contacts. Separate contact info, how you know them, what they know, what they like/dislike about you, what you can do for them, and what they can do for you.
2. Whether twice a year or quarterly, go through that list and send updates. 
3. This is where that newsletter comes in handy. It may be a good idea to fine tune a newsletter for each contact. Whether one is more personal, or another is geared towards a separate market, just make sure its relevant to its recipients. It should contain new work, new projects, and a brief overview of what you've been up to. Bonus points if it's pretty. 
4. I personally have a spreadsheet of people I would like to work for. It helps me make think about who I actually want to meet/work for and take steps towards doing so. Its actually very helpful. 
5. Record any responses, feedback, who you talked to, and their contact information. This allows you to mention what they said or who you talked to in future conversations with the company/person. 

-If you are in college it is by far the most effective to just talk to your career counselor about the issue of meeting and maintaining contacts...that's what they're paid to do.

-Basic examples of proper email etiquette for the completely lost.

-Excellent article that agrees with me :)

-Recommended Reading: Keith Farazzi's Never Eat Alone (making contacts) and Who's Got your Back (keeping contacts)