Networking dilemma - Good response rate
I've been networking my ass off recently and fortunately have been getting a good response rate. The unfortunate part is that many times the other person gives me a time at which it's not possible for me to have a call with him/her. I work pretty long hours so even had to reschedule a couple of times with some people.
So what do I do when the guy I'm cold-emailing asks me to call him at 9:30 am? What would be the best way to reschedule? 'Cause lets face it, these people are reasonably high up and they're doing me a huge favor as it is. Would highly prefer not to burn these bridges even before I build them.
Thoughts?
Just find a place to take the call and say that you were taking a shit if anyone gets on you. Should only take 15-25min anyway.
You are depending on these people, so you will HAVE to find a way to accomodate their busy schedules. Find a nice, quiet location to do the call & have your alibi ready in case it's needed.
I don't mean to harp over such a relatively small issue, but thing is, my office is quite small so there's no place where I can take a private call. I guess I'll have to get outta there and think up some excuse for the same. Slightly worried, since I can do that only so many times.
Nevertheless, thanks for your suggestions, all. Hope someone will let me know if there's a better solution.
Consider doing the calls first thing in the morning and just showing up late to the office? It isn't completely unreasonable to show up at 10:00am some days. For example, early morning doctor's appointments, delivery guy is showing up between 9 - 10 and you need to be at home to sign for the package, bathroom leak and you needed to stick around while maintenance/plumber looked at the problem, etc.
Will try to think of some similar stuff, though. I'm realizing now that I'm a noob at dreaming up good excuses.
I'm mostly shocked at the idea that you think you need to come up with an excuse to be out of the office for 15-20 minutes. Are people at your office really so nosy that they're going to ask where you were if you step out for 15 minutes??
What about going to grab coffee? During a normal day, I usually go out for a coffee in the afternoon or even mid morning, so I'd think that could be a prime excuse for leaving for 15 to 20 minutes.If you're working a lot of hours as you indicated, it wouldn't be unreasonable for you to get a coffee during the day.
If anyone asks, say you're trying to buy a new apartment and your broker calls you at crazy times.
The trick is set expectations up front by saying- I'm generally available at x times (make them early or late) or weekends. People get you're situation so they would probably try to make it work. Handle the exceptions as they come along
"I had an important matter to attend to."
...works every time
Turn the tables... Go for morning/afternoon coffee and say someone younger was looking to network with YOU and you are just trying to help them out.
Better hurry up & do these networking calls before they install cameras & motion sensors on your floor.
@NorthSider Totally agree with you. This isn't a day care center, it is your place of work. If you need to go do something for 10 minutes, it should not be a problem. I really think you are being paranoid or just work in a shitty place if it truly is the case. Don't you have lunch that you can schedule these? Please don't tell me they chain you to the desk for that too and you have no ability to go out and grab something.
Just show up later than usual, and say you were waiting for the Super to check something in the apartment. Pipes, windows, meters, or any other random thing you might have, even a frickin model number of a fridge or some shit.
You've seriously never heard of a dickhead associate? Not everyone is lucky enough to have normal superiors. He'll put the question very casually, but I'm damn well expected to answer. Yes, that's shitty and it sucks, but that's the definition of life. There are times when I can say I had some personal work and leave it at that, other times I'd better answer. I've learned to adjust when the big picture is worth the shit I have to take for it.
Ya, got that from CB's comment. Will keep this stuff in mind, thanks :)
No, I've definitely had my fair share of dickhead Associates. But never has that involved them auditing my every move. My advice to you is to get out of there... fast.
Also, for the most part, being convincing has a lot more to do with confidence and levity than convincing stories.
Next time your Associate asks you where you were, say something sarcastic that highlights the stupidity of the question. When my dad used to ask questions like that to me in high school, I would respond in jest with something like, "Oh just planning my getaway car for the bank robbery I'm planning next week." A brief laugh and for quite a while, he would stop asking questions like that.
It's absurd to have to feel like you are being watched everywhere you go. That's not a dickhead Associate, that's some Big Brother insanity.
It sounds like they are a bit too nosy. I'll give you a list that should work and are pretty good reasons to get away. Most were previously mentioned by others, but its good to have a rundown to rotate things out. 1) Going to the bank branch. 2) Going to the pharmacy for a prescription. 3) Taking a call outside from a doctors office. Your test results are back. 4) Any real estate transaction. 5) Planning a personal event for other people. Anniversaries, Birthday Parties, Bachelor Parties, etc.
I am pretty sure the strength of these are in the details, but you'll sort that out. They should meet the threshold of private conversations or errands. If your associate insists on follow up response, simply say "I didn't want to disturb the whole office with xyz personal stuff."
Good Luck.
This is incredibly helpful, thanks a ton!
Why not just ask them for a different time? Are you sure it will burn bridges? I've been networking nonstop for the past two months and I often have to ask to reschedule the initial time they propose. I usually just say something like "9:30 am is pretty tight for me, would you have any time after 6 pm?" These guys don't care from what I've seen (note: as a caveat I am not contacting people in finance, so I have no idea if there are cultural differences)
Expedita ea sint molestiae veritatis non velit quis est. Illo nemo quae ut eum quod quia.
Et quos sed sint voluptate quis optio. Itaque ea explicabo consequuntur reprehenderit explicabo modi. Dolorem maiores sit omnis est qui quia aut. Non est quod veniam ullam culpa temporibus. Non nobis et sit porro voluptate consequatur molestiae. Sed et officia ut dolor.
Itaque reiciendis laborum aperiam assumenda rerum ad unde hic. Impedit deleniti qui dolor laudantium aut maiores exercitationem.
Ab ducimus aut expedita molestiae hic. Quaerat voluptas nesciunt aut. Nulla eligendi sint est unde doloribus aut laborum. Sapiente ea praesentium sunt aut quis et similique. Eos voluptatibus ut debitis maiores molestiae. Nam quia iusto iusto ut.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Vero aperiam dolores vel sed illum ut facilis. Quidem corporis dolorum tempora quo sed aut possimus. Quia laboriosam qui inventore ducimus ipsa. Quia accusantium ut at omnis aut dolore. Reiciendis enim nostrum est architecto. Quia illum aut ea necessitatibus. Ex quos odio qui.
Doloremque ipsum aut cumque reiciendis. Pariatur nihil eaque ut autem aut velit quia. Distinctio fugit minus recusandae ullam natus.
Aperiam rerum minus soluta omnis est qui ipsum. Fugiat eligendi cumque porro illo aut excepturi. Sequi quasi dolor assumenda omnis distinctio. Nesciunt et saepe quia beatae.