How to ask for a Career Chat… (Part 1/3)

Having a Career Chat with someone who can offer guidance and advice, is one of the best things you can do accelerate your career.

You only know what you know. Which means there is SO much you do not know.

And the quickest way to learn these things is by asking other people.

In fact, regular Career Chats are something I recommend my clients on my Creative Career Level Up programme do at least twice a month.

But knowing you should do it and actually getting someones time are two very different things!

So, how do you actually get a chat in the diary?

Asking someone to take time out of their day to give you career advice can be met with mixed results.

But if you ask in the right way, you dramatically increase your chances that someone will give you their time.

1. Decide how you will contact them

Deciding how you will contact someone is important.

If you know them well, use the means by which you normally chat. For example, if you usually send them a message, add your request to your normal message thread.

If they are an old colleague or friend who you haven't spoken to in awhile, a platform like Linkedin or Instagram might be appropriate.

If it’s an old boss or someone more senior, it might be email.

Think of your audience and what makes sense for them.

You are more likely to get a response on a platform that they use regularly and where your message will stand out.

2. Decide the size of your ask

The size of your ask really depends on how well you know them, how senior/busy they are and how much value you can add for them.

If they are a close friend or colleague, requesting an in-person coffee isn’t weird.

But if they are a complete stranger, it is very presumptuous to expect them to give you in-person time. So keep the ask much much smaller.

If they are a busy parent who is also CEO of a global company, they might not have a lot of time to spare, so you'll also need to keep the ask small.

If you have something to offer them as well - for example, you might be offering to introduce them to someone in your network - taking them for a mutually beneficial lunch could be a great idea!

But if you know you are just going to be asking them for advice on your career, be willing to keep your ask smaller.

3. Give Options

We’d all love an in-person lunch to pick someones brain, but for many people this won’t be an option.

Be sure to show you are mindful of their time by giving them options.

If it is appropriate, ask to take them for a lunch or coffee.

But acknowledge that this is asking a lot of their time, so also offer two other options.

You could also offer a video/phone call at a time that suits them.

Or you could offer to just send over 3 questions for them to answer on email.

Another option you can offer is responding to questions via a voice note (I love this option!).

Whatever options you offer, make sure you are always thinking about what works for them.

4. Scheduling 

Most Career Chats break down at the scheduling point of the process.

Going back and forth with a busy person, trying to find a time that works, is frustrating for both sides.

Here you have two options:

Either send them a range of times and days with lots of options for them to choose from.

OR you can use an online scheduling tool like Calendly or OnceHub which gives them access to your diary so they can pick a time that works for them.

Either way, make sure there are a plenty of options available on there! And be super flexible.

Next week: How to prepare for a Career Chat

By considering these 4 things, you make saying 'yes' to a Career Chat so much easier. And you are showing the person you are asking that you really do value their time.

Now, if you are wondering, what do I do if they say yes?! 

You are in luck. Because this newsletter is the first in a series of 3.

Next week I’ll be covering ‘How to prepare for a Career Chat’.

So stay tuned!