How to use “weak ties” to get your next job
Basically me, going back and forth to NYC for job interviews in April 2012.
In April 2012, I (Laura) was yet again riding Amtrak back to DC after two straight days of exploratory chats and interviews in NYC.
I checked my inbox and had gotten an offer for my first startup job: General Manager at HowAboutWe (a now defunct dating site).
My interview didn't come from a job board or my business school network. It came through a connection made by a high school friend I hadn't talked to in over 5 years.
Every job opportunity I've gotten has come from a connection, even if it wasn't a strong one. Turns out weak ties are the way to go.
Here are some tips for how to find your next job by nurturing weak ties in a way that feels authentic to you.
First, the start with the basics:
What’s a “weak tie”?
Weak ties are the people you’re loosely connected to through any activity in your work or personal life. Here’s how they’re described by Allie Volpe for the New York Times.
Think of the parents you see in the drop-off line at school. Your favorite bartender. The other dog owners at the park. The sociologist Mark Granovetter calls these low-stakes relationships “weak ties.” Not only can these connections affect our job prospects, they also can have a positive impact on our well-being by helping us feel more connected to other social groups.
Why are my weak ties important for finding my next job? Let’s talk about pie.
Imagine the jobs you know of only represent 2 pieces of the pie. If you don’t think your dream job exists, go looking in the other pieces of the pie.
Do you know exactly what you want to do for a living? Are you clear on the job you’re hunting for? If yes, congrats! That job search might be tedious but it’s helpful to know what you’re hunting for.
For so many people, the answer is a sheepish “no.”
If you haven’t been inspired by the jobs around you, chances are part of what’s holding you back is not having a model that resonates with you. Someone, doing something that seems realistic and inspiring to you.
If you’re only exposed to your immediate circle of friends, you’re only going to see the jobs that are in front of you. The ones your friends have, the ones that pop up on LinkedIn or get pushed to you by your career counselor.
Consider this your piece of the pie, combined with the piece of the pie your friends and co-workers know. The rest of the pie is unknown to you, for now.
If none of those jobs sound appealing, you have to broaden your view. Get a new perspective. See how the rest of the world works. What’s happening in all the other slices of the pie?
There are likely dozens of jobs out there that you know very little about, but that could bring you joy. That was the case for me.
When I started as a coach, all I knew was that I wanted to learn how to coach. I come from an operations background and love doing puzzles. Solving problems is my jam. After 14 years of working to solve business/operations problems, I wanted to learn how to help individuals navigate their own challenges.
At the time, being a coach full-time seemed insufficient to make a living and totally out of left field in a way I couldn’t explain to people. No one in my immediate circle was a coach, or even had a coach. So I had to do some exploring. One of my first connections was through my CFO at my last startup, a wonderful friend and colleague named Chris. Over drinks, he mentioned our CEO who I had worked with for 2 years had recently hired a coach, paying him/her a not-cheap retainer. Both Chris and my former CEO, two people I respected, spoke highly of a successful coach. It put this whole coaching thing in a very appealing new light. This career became that much more realistic.
You can get exposed to new jobs by having conversations with people who run in different circles. Through your weak ties.
Where do I start to connect with my weak ties?
Start by identifying one thing you know you like (e.g. working for a particular cause like the environment or animal rights). Then look at all the people who you’ve ever been in contact with. Through sports teams, your alma mater, school programs, etc. Does anyone have a connection there? Could anyone make a connection for you?
What if I haven’t talked to these people in 5 years?
That’s A-OK. You can still reach out. Just acknowledge the passing of time and be earnest about it. One example:
“Hey Jon!
It’s been so long! Last time we talked you were in SF working for AirBnB. Still there? How are things?
I’m reaching out because I saw you’re connected to ASPCA. It’s an organization I’m really interested in getting involved with. I wanted to see if you had 20 minutes to spare to chat through your experience with them. If it’s not a good time, I totally get it. It would be good to hear updates either way.
Hope you’re well. — Laura”
In the meantime, start nurturing your connections with more intention to make these conversations even easier.
How can I nurture my connections with weak ties?
What is nurturing?
Nurturing is a series of touch points with someone. The goal is to know what's going with each other, e.g. where you are today and what you're looking to do next. Once you have the info, you'll be in a better position to help each other out in a mutually beneficial way.
Who should I be nurturing?
Anyone you've ever connected with could be worth nurturing if you think they could be helpful to you and you to them. You already know a ton of people, even if you don't believe us (yet). You know all of your current and past colleagues, friends you play soccer with (or whatever else), book club friends, neighbors you grew up with, friends of friends, your family friends ... you get the idea. All of these are fair game, even if you haven't talked to them in 10 years.
How should I be nurturing?
Not all relationships are created equal. Your nurturing activities may be different by person. Think about "what type of activities do I already do to maintain relationships?" and "what types of activities do I hate doing?" "What feels most appropriate or natural for this person and for me?" Find a nurturing style that works for you (there are lots of ideas below).
Do I have to get coffee with everyone?
Nope. You might love to get coffee chats, or grab drinks, or have a Zoom catch-up over breakfast. These 1-on-1 connections can be meaningful and useful. However, they're not the only option. Let's check out group nurturing...
What is group nurturing?
It means a touch point that goes to many people, so you get the most bang for your buck. You likely already do this in your WhatsApp groups, text chains, when you’re throwing a dinner party, when you’re sharing an update on LinkedIn, when you play a game of soccer with your friends...etc.
Want to download our checklist on how to nurture connections with weak ties?
What are some of your favorite nurturing ideas?
Sometimes the hardest part of nurturing is deciding on how to nurture your connections in the most effective way. And often if we get stuck at this point, it can lead us to getting stopped altogether.
All you need is a touchpoint that works for both you and them. Here are some of mine and Carly’s favorite nurturing ideas:
Virtual Nurturing Ideas
Send a postcard
Collect vintage or unusual postcards on your trips or in flea markets and send them whenever it strikes your fancy.
My sister regularly sends postcards, whether she’s traveling or not.
Send a mass letter to celebrate around:
Holidays
Birthdays
Work anniversaries
Send a mass email announcements because you:
Are graduating!
Had a life event - got married, had a child
Change of address - work or personal
New business card
Want to give a semi-annual update on your new business
1-on-1 “thinking of you” emails:
Share an article that you think is useful
Invite them to an event that you're going to
Send something relevant to them that made you think of them
Just saying hi
Send a text:
Ways to nurture more than one person at once
Organize an event:
Happy hour
Group activity
Game night
Invite them to an existing event:
Work event that you're hosting
Webinar that might interest them
Virtual or real life trivia night
Attend an industry event:
Conference
Party
Meetup
Invite friends on social media, in online groups, or on your sports team to read a book alongside you, especially one that’s topical (e.g. How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi)
1-on-1 (these can be virtual or in-person)
Coffee
Lunch
Drinks
Dinner
Go for a walk
Co-work together
Do an activity together (e.g. exercise class, summer concert, museum)
Want another way to strengthen weak ties?
Join our 5-week career accountability group. You’ll meet others navigating their own career journey and get coaching from me and Carly. We’ll share proven tips to get you moving, feel clear-headed, accomplished, and energized. Join us!
Are we missing your favorite nurturing tip? Share!
Comment below or email us (hello@thecrabwalk.com) and tell us!
If you liked this blog, check out some of our others on the topic of nurturing:
Want to download our checklist on how to nurture connections with weak ties?