Having established a consistent schedule, it’s time to get the most out of every coffee, phone call and email. Don’t beat around the bush with small talk. Always make a request.
This approach moves the ball down the field. You signal your singular motivation to your interlocutor. You avoid any confusion on both sides.
It’s a terrible feeling when a week of silence goes by after a promising networking call as you hope your new connection got the hint about your motivation. Take out the guesswork by being direct.
When speaking with a connector or a trailblazer, pose questions like:
Can you introduce me to X?
Can you refer me for X role?
What’s the next step you suggest I take to break into X sector of tech?
Apply the same technique at the end of an interview, by asking:
When will I hear about the next step?
What topics can I provide more clarity on to convince you to support my candidacy?
In addition to an ask that advances your career transition goals, be sure to also see if there’s anything …
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