I used to think networking was just awkward small talk until a recruiter gave me a real tip

Honestly, I was stuck trying to move from my customer service job into a marketing role for like 8 months. A recruiter I met at a Denver meetup told me to stop asking for jobs and start asking for one specific piece of advice instead. So, I began reaching out to people on LinkedIn and asking, 'What's one skill you wish you'd learned sooner in this field?' Ngl, that one question got me way more replies and three actual coffee chats. Has anyone else tried a different question that really worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliotw371mo ago

Asking about a specific project they're proud of works well too. It gets them talking about real work instead of just giving generic advice.

wendygarcia1mo ago

Yeah that's a solid tip. What kind of project usually gets the best stories out of people?

kaimiller23d ago

My buddy Steve at the hardware store tells me the same thing happens with customers every time... you ask about their garden shed or a deck they built themselves, and suddenly they're telling you about their whole life story. @wendygarcia it's like people want to share the real stuff but need a little nudge first. I've noticed it at cookouts too, ask someone about their grill setup and they'll talk for an hour about where it came from. Keeps things simple and honest I guess.