Networking 101

Source: Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library lbjlibrary.org

Now, his first night at the Dodge, he did something strange… [22-year old Congressional secretary] Lyndon Baines Johnson took four showers. Four times he walked towel-draped to the communal bathroom down along the hall. Four times he turned on the water and lathered up. The next morning he got up early to brush his teeth five times, with five-minute intervals in between.

The young man from Texas had a mission. There were seventy-five other congressional secretaries living in the building. He wanted to meet as many of them as possible as fast as possible.

The strategy worked. Within three months of arriving in Washington, the newcomer got himself elected Speaker of the “Little Congress,” the organization of all House staff assistants.

Chris Matthews, Hardball.

The word “networking” intimidates many of us. Most normal people would never even think of using trips to the bathroom as a way to jump start our careers. 

For better and worse though, networking is essential to your success -- invariably, most jobs above entry-level will involve some degree of personal connection. According to research from LinkedIn and HubSpot, around 85% of jobs are filled by networking. 

The common vision of networking typically involves business cards, bragging, and begging, but it’s so much more important to build trust and rapport. Especially for those just starting out in the political world, growing your network is a necessary skill. If you need to help a constituent with an agency, or are curious about a policy topic, knowing the relevant people personally can help grease the wheels of government.

Here are some tips for building a network without being obnoxious about it.

Reach out!

You can’t wait for things to come to you! You will need to reach out to people who do things that interest you, or whose energy and presence in the workplace you admire. Do your research beforehand whenever possible. 

To some this might be easy, even exciting, but if you’re more introverted it can be a little terrifying. It may help to frame it less in terms of “networking” and more in terms of creating conversation and connection around shared interests, the same as you do in so many other parts of your life.

Be clear about what you want 

If someone is interested in helping you - great! But make sure they understand exactly what kind of opportunities you are looking for (and do the work to figure this out before you make asks). While it’s valuable to stay open, it’s important that someone understand the parameters of the kind of work you want to do. 

For example, describing the specific issues you’re passionate about is much clearer than just saying you want to work at a nonprofit. Someone helping you out is less likely to feel like their energy is being wasted if they have a good idea of what to pass along, and what you probably aren’t interested in.  

Maintain relationships

A professional relationship is in many ways still a friendship: while you should of course keep things work-appropriate, networking will be much more effective if you find commonalities as whole people, outside of work. (It’s ok to talk about shared interests, like a hobby or a TV show!) This also allows you to follow up and keep in touch in a more organic way. 

On that note: be continuously building strong relationships. Don’t wait for something like a job loss to maintain and, on the same token, don’t stop being proactive just because you got a job. Keep up with people whenever you hear about things they might be interested in and let them know you’re not simply trying to use them to get your next job.

Informational interviews

Being friendly, communicative, and a generous, active listener are all key to creating connections no matter what. If a more in-depth career conversation doesn’t occur organically, there is a concrete practice known as an informational interview. 

Essentially, ask to have a lengthier conversation with someone about their career, and by extension your own. People in this world tend to like to talk about themselves.

Face time matters

Face to face is still ideal. Networking in person has taken a hit during the pandemic, but angling for a Zoom is still preferred over a phone call (our tips to Zoom here). Simply, if it’s a first-time meeting the person will remember you better, and it’s overall easier to communicate with both your voice and face. 

Network without networking

The worst networkers are the ones who are obvious about it. They exist at every fundraiser, award ceremony, and book launch, talking to one person while scanning the room for someone more important.

Just because you go to an event to network, you can also have genuine conversations with people there. Talk about what they’re interested in. Enjoy yourself. Don’t treat the room like professional speed dating. 

Follow up

If someone has an informational interview with you, yes, you need to write a thank-you note within a day or two. If you hand out a business card, put a custom note on the back about how you met and why you’re excited about that. 

Beyond an initial thank you, think about how you can continue the conversation in a way that is interesting to both of you. 

Pay it forward

Let’s be honest. A career in politics is not equally accessible to all and is opaque to many. If you’ve made it into the places where you can network, do your part to keep the doors open for others.

No matter what level you are at in a career, but particularly if you are past entry-level, consider how you can forge relationships outside of your existing network, broadcast opportunities to wider audiences, and be vocal about pushing for greater equity in your current space. 

Also be sure to help those who have helped you. If their involvement got you a job, let them know how it’s going. Keep them updated about what your office is doing and you may find them soon coming to you with questions about a policy or issue. 

No matter where you are in your career (maybe you’re just starting to manage your first team of interns!) remember: no one gets anywhere alone. 

How Legislata helps

Legislata is productivity software for people in politics. Keep track of all your contacts and take some of the mental strain off of your networking efforts. We’ll be launching at the end of the month. Get in touch to register your interest and sign up for more information.