Building your Network as a Business

Networking

You are probably thinking:

How hard can it be?

And I completely get you

After all, you are probably doing it all the time

And you’re absolutely right

So if you’ve already got networking covered, feel free to check out the other blog posts I’ve written

But if you’re still curious, keep reading and see if you can pick up a few useful tips

The reason I’m writing this is that networking is a bit different in this app

Here’s how it works:

Create your profile and make as many selections as possible. Read here to find out why it’s a good idea to complete as many selections as you can

You’ll be matched with candidates who have made the same selections as you

Matches are also based on your geographical area

The choices you make will be displayed on your profile

Don’t forget to write an engaging profile description as well

You can find inspiration for writing a profile that attracts candidates here

Only you can initiate the conversation

The reason for this is simple:

We don’t want you to be flooded with messages and questions that take up your time

Once you’ve sent the first message and opened the conversation, both of you can message each other freely

This is where your networking begins

Here you’ll find out whether you’re a good match and whether your expectations align

If they do

You can invite the candidate for an interview

If you don’t currently have an open position

Simply keep the candidate on your profile (assuming they’re exactly the right person)

You can choose to keep the relationship warm by checking in from time to time

That way, you’ll continue getting to know the candidate better while also showing your interests until the right opportunity comes along

Of course, you can also remove a candidate if it turns out you’re not the right match after all and you don’t expect that to change

Simply, swipe left on the candidate’s conversation in your Messages, where you’ll find the Remove button

Remember to send the candidate a message explaining why you’re removing the match

We’ve created a number of ready-to-use messages with common reasons for ending a match

However, I strongly recommend writing a personal message instead

That leaves the candidate with a positive impression of both you and your company

After all, they also have friends and family they talk to

And building a strong employer brand is something that matters

That said, I’d generally recommend keeping candidates warm, even if you don’t have a vacancy right now

Do you remember when the Tinka hat was the must-have item?

If you waited too long, they were simply sold out

And there you were, wanting to be the best parent you could be

But unable to give your child the one thing it wanted the most

The same thing can happen with your candidate matches

If you don’t acknowledge that they want to work for you

They may no longer be available when you finally need them

On the other hand, if the interest simply isn’t there, delete the match

That way, the person won’t keep hoping for something that’s never gonna happen

Finally, I’d like to remind you that your profile is personal

Even though you’re representing a company

You’re also the future manager your candidates may be working for

And research consistently shows

That candidates want to get to know their future manager

They want to understand what it’s like to work in your organisation

And that’s where you come in

As a leader, you’re the key

The app also includes a profile transfer feature

This means you can transfer your profile if you change jobs and someone else takes over your role in the department or organisation

Which reminds me…

You can also have a candidate profile, even if you represent a company

Just because you’re a manager doesn’t mean you can’t be open for new opportunities yourself

Simply log in and out depending on which profile you want to use

Use your company email address to log in to your employer profile

Use your personal email address to log in to your candidate profile

Enjoy the journey—whether you’re looking for your next great employee or your next great job