Quick Tip: Don’t be Afraid of Rejection

It is important to be confident when it comes to networking. Don’t be afraid of rejection.

It’s natural to feel nervous or anxious about reaching out to someone new, especially if you’re asking for something like a job or an introduction. But it’s important to remember that rejection is a normal part of networking. Just because someone isn’t able to help you out right now doesn’t mean they won’t be able to in the future, and it doesn’t mean you should give up on networking altogether. The more you practice reaching out and asking for help, the more comfortable you will become with it. Just keep in mind that it’s not about getting an immediate yes; it’s about building relationships over time that can lead to future opportunities.

Sometime you will get a blunt “No”.

If you get a “no” when networking or asking for a referral or introduction. It is not personal and doesn’t reflect on your worth as a professional. Instead of dwelling on the rejection, try to learn from it and move on. It might have nothing to do with you and everything to do with the agenda of the one doing the rejecting. Maybe meeting and talking with your doesn’t align with their own networking goals or they don’t have the time – time is precious and needs to be spent wisely.

You can ask for feedback if appropriate, and use that to improve your approach in the future. It’s also important to remember that networking is a long-term process, and building relationships takes time. It’s not uncommon to be rejected or turned down at some point, so try not to let it get you down.

Keep networking and eventually, you will make the connections you need to succeed.