how NOT to network

Society Business and Career
1

so, I am talking to a former colleague Monica, she is trying to get out of the company and during conversation she says hey you have consulting and program mgmt background. My husband is with some company that works in that area and i was wondering if I could put you in touch with him..

actually her email said

If you are amenable, I did want to connect you with my husband. He has
just started working for a project management firm. They are partnering
with several consulting firms, and I know you have a lot of experience in
that area. In short, his company supplies the project managers for the
recommendations that the consulting firms make. Do you mind if I
forward him your information? I know he would benefit from your experience.

say sure and this is the email I get from the guy..

I believe we actually may have met once – at your company outing at Gameworks. I stopped by towards the end and you all were playing pool

Anyway, Monica gave me your email address. Apparently she thinks you may be able to help me with my new company.

Can you tell me what you are currently doing professionally?

When I get a better sense for how we may work together I’ll better know what to tell you about my company.

Thank you,

Kurt*

I mean what the hell, you are not only being dismissive about your wife in your email, but you are being a total jackass, no thank you for your offer to help, no how are things … nada..rather start shooting questions at me and my job to figure out what he would tell me. Its like hello jackass, I know your company, know wat you do, whats with all this tell me what you do business.

anyways, so I had to respond, I dont want to like be buddy buddy but do want to answer, and to set the tone as in I was asked to connect with him more due to my background and not as a potential client

*Hi Kurt

You are right, we had met briefly at gameworks back
in 2002/2003.

I think Monica just wanted us to connect as I have
worked in the consulting and project mgmt industry,
as a big 5 consultant as well as in internal roles wth
fortune 500.

Currently I am working in the Corporate Business
Planning group. It is an internal consulting, planning and corporate projects
execution group.

Regards

He still does not get any hint and right away throws a sales pitch at me

*> >

Would your company ever consider outsourcing for
Project Management
services?

Expert IT Project Management is our specialty and we
typically augment
client PMOs - especially when we can determine we
have expertise the client
doesn’t have in house.

If you are interested I can send you more
information about my company.

Kurt*

I am like dude what the hell, I mean you have not shared anything and already ua re asking if I would consider outsourcing shyt to you

My response

In general we have internal PM organization for systems, deal with ABC and XYZ from a consulting and external project mgmt perspective and have outsourced work overseas for general development related PM work which can be done there since much of the internal development is offshore.

I am fairly involved in all these areas and discussions so if there are opportunities for supplemental support, I will let you know.

Thanks

seriously if someone approached you like this would you treat em differently or think about channeling business their way?

2

Re: how NOT to network

hahahah I agree with you 100%

What an idiot! I doubt he will get much business coming his way if he keeps this up.

3

Re: how NOT to network

Talking of networking Fraudz, I am planning to move to calgary "sometime in the future"

One of the things I did was did a web search on pakistani's in calgary and i came across the pakistani association of calgary!

I got in touch with the president by email and asked for help in getting in touch with someone who could help me when i finally get round to applying for jobs (i sent the email and worded it very carefully)

The president of the society got in touch with me the enxt day and passed my details on to an engineer who is also working in my field (oil and gas)

The engineer asked em to send him an email closer to me coming over and told me he could put me in touch with a whole group of engineers...

I guess it's how you present yourself? The way i did it i got in touch with some very good people who look like they will bemore than willing to help me out when the time comes.

4

Re: how NOT to network

What a idiot that Kurt.

5

Re: how NOT to network

So “yo hook me up wit a job” doesnt work? I knew that wasnt’ working :bummer:

helloooooooooooooo
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Re: how NOT to network

idiot just does not give up. I mean this high power sales pitch right away does nto work unless you are meeting some immediate critical need that I have.

he writes

*Thanks Kami,

Also, please keep in mind that our Project Managers are at least as
good as those at XYZ an ABC and would cost your company much less money.

It is not that we deal on price - we don't.

It is simply that we are much smaller and have very little overhead so
we can offer extremely high quality PMs for much less than the "big guys"
can.

I believe if your company gives us just one chance we can prove this.

Thank you,

Kurt*

i am thinking dude, if your company and your PMs work like you, I dont want to hire em cuz I dunn wanna bring in a PM who would piss off my mgmt team. gadha insaan.

I have not responded, but I think I will send him a thanks, dont call us we will call you sort of email. but keep it professional, dont want to be an idiot ya know.

The Random Thread
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Re: how NOT to network

depends on how well u know the person, I have pals who I can just call and say hook me up and they will try. There are others u have to be a little more diplomatic with.

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Re: how NOT to network

I like the way you word your responses. I need to work on this and not be as blunt to say leave me alone or by not answering calls. Sometime I have to literally hide behind something when I see them in public so I don't have to answer why I haven't been returning their calls or emails. Unfortunately some are so dheet that they don't get it. I hate chipkoos.

I like your idea of "don't call me, I'll call you".

9

Re: how NOT to network

sky the fact of the matter is that you dont want to make enemies, be professional and just leave it at that.

Why do u love GS?
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Re: how NOT to network

rizwan, good work, i mean some of it depends on what ppl u are running into, a d then much of it depends on how you are approaching ppl.

There are some ppl who contact me only when they need something., I mean its okay we dont have to be pals but just dont contact me when u are looking for work.

if one goes thru their rolodex and just tries to maintain ongoing contact with ppl, and try to meet up with them even once or twice a year it does wonders.

One of the top sales guy I knew, said that he had lunch with his clients contacts atleast 3 times a week, met up with some after hours for a drink or so etc.

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Re: how NOT to network

I would have hardly been as nice and patient as you Mr. Frauds!

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Re: how NOT to network

Rizwan, I am in Alberta. Haven't interacted with the Pakistani association. Can you pass on their contact information? Thanks.

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Re: how NOT to network

No problem Kodiak

Based in calgary.

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Re: how NOT to network

yes yes Mr.F..we get the point..you’re a big shot consultant and people are dying to network with you (but they just don’t how to..darnnn)..:hehe:

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Re: how NOT to network

btw the above was just an attempt in jest..we live in the same city..pata nahee kab mujhe zarrorat par jaye mr.F sey network karney kii...:)

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Re: how NOT to network

It was an example to show people a real life exchange and what not to do.

As you would see, no one is ‘dying’ to netywork with me. Its is one person who thins I can probably be a good source of feedback for her husband who started at this company, and he instead of reaching out to me from that angle, went for a very quick hard sell.

but I guess everyone saw what they saw based on their own perspectives.

wierdness
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Re: how NOT to network

sure sure. I dont think CEOs need to network with me :wink:

khumar bhai.....
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Re: how NOT to network

Peerzada sahab

I understand this was Khudkushi karney ka ghalat tareeqa !
**
Kindly tell us* Khudkushi karney ka sahi tareeqa too.*
**
I mean this was quite educational. Your wording was professional … but I want to know is how you would approch if you were in kurt’s shoes.

Please give a specimen letter / email :flower1:

khumar bhai.....
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Re: how NOT to network

honestly if u hadnt pointed out th flaws, i wudnt c them..
does this mean i’m dooooooooooooooomeddddddddddd :teary2:

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Re: how NOT to network

please mr.F..:blush:..u humble me..but ur correct..im a very powerful man..