Trying to network remotely is brutal. Did three ‘informationals’ with associates last month - all said to stay in touch, none responded to follow ups. Those who landed internships through Zoom networking: what specific tactics made seniors remember you? How do you turn a 25-minute call into real opportunities without being pushy?
stop treating it like chat, treat it like an interview. come with 3 sharp questions about THEIR current deals, not your career. end with ‘mind if I send over a 1-pager on [relevant topic] next week?’ gives excuse to follow up. no one cares about your dreams
i started sending memes related to their deals afterwards! like if they mentioned energy transition, found a niche industry joke. got 2/5 responses vs zero before. not professional but hey, got my foot in the door
The key is creating multiple touchpoints. After the call, send a concise follow-up with: 1) Specific insight you gained 2) Application of that insight (e.g., ‘Used your approach on X in my current project analysing Y’) 3) Polite ask for document review. Demonstrates actual implementation of their advice.
2023 internal survey shows 82% of offers stemmed from 3+ strategic follow-ups. Most effective sequence: Thank you email (24hr), content-based follow-up (7-10 days), holiday greeting (strategic timing). 41% conversion rate when including industry-specific analysis in second contact vs 12% with generic check-ins.