We often give early career professionals the same advice: “You need to network.”
Eager to do the right thing, they log onto LinkedIn or check the company directory and start sending out calendar invites. Without guidance, though, this advice can backfire. They often send vague, open-ended requests to busy executives, which leads to awkward coffee chats where both people feel their time was wasted.
Managers, mentors, and career coaches need to recognize that junior employees often see networking as just another task to complete. They know it’s important, but they don’t always know how to approach it with real purpose.
Our job is not just to tell them to build a network. We need to show them how to network with clear goals and a strategy in place.
Let your mentees know that vague requests show they’re not prepared.
A vague request like, “Can I grab fifteen minutes to pick your brain?” might sound harmless to them, but to a busy leader, it feels like an unplanned demand on their time. Most experienced professionals do want to help young talent, but they also want to know their advice will be useful. Without a clear goal, the conversation drifts, and the junior employee misses out on the specific advice that could really help their career.
Before reaching out, encourage them to define their main career goal. Are they an intern hoping to become full-time? Do they want to move to another department? Or are they just curious about what a senior analyst does each day?
Help them connect that goal to the right people.
If they want to learn about data analytics, they should reach out to people who work with data every day, not just any executive.
Give them a clear, professional template to help structure their outreach. Show them how to swap “Can I pick your brain?” for a more focused and valuable message:
“I’m currently an intern on the marketing team, and I’m eager to learn how your team utilizes data to drive overall strategy. Would you be open to a brief 15-minute conversation about your day-to-day workflow?”
This small change makes a big difference. It shows respect for the senior colleague’s time and gives them a clear idea of how they can help the new hire.
Show them that being organized and focused during a casual networking chat really sets them apart.
When networking has a clear purpose, the results are much better. Instead of just polite small talk, a well-prepared early career professional will leave with valuable takeaways:
A specific book or resource recommendation.
A new framework or idea to apply to their current role.
An introduction to another helpful connection in the industry.
Being organized and focused shows upper management that they are strategic, respectful, and able to work well with those above them.
Networking speeds up growth.
Being truly coachable in networking means valuing other people’s time as something important.
When we encourage our mentees and team members to set clear goals before scheduling meetings, we help them get more out of their efforts and build real, lasting professional relationships. This shift takes them to focused, meaningful conversations that truly speed up their career growth.
Conversation Kit for Managers & Mentors
Use the conversation kit below to run more impactful one-on-one and group sessions in less time. The kits give you intentional articles and discussion prompts to guide early-career professionals and accelerate their growth.