Networking & Visibility
How do I write a networking message people will answer?
Use a real connection, a clear reason for reaching out, and a small request that respects the other person’s time.
Most networking messages fail because they are vague, generic, or quietly ask the recipient to solve the sender’s job search. A useful message helps the person quickly understand who you are, why them, and what response would be helpful.
Create relevance quickly
Reference the shared relationship, experience, company, event, or topic that made the outreach reasonable. Avoid spending the opening paragraph proving your entire career.
State your context in one sentence. Then make a specific request, such as 20 minutes to learn about a market shift or the realities of a particular leadership path.
Make it easy to decline or engage
Keep the note concise and warm. Do not attach a résumé unless it is relevant and invited. A message that respects choice feels more relational than a disguised obligation.
If there is no response, one thoughtful follow-up is reasonable. Then continue without turning silence into a personal judgment.
Why this matters in a CPG career
A message to a CPG contact works best when it gives the recipient a reason to remember the connection and understand the relevance. The goal is to start a useful conversation, not to place the burden of your search on someone else.
Questions worth answering
- What did I learn about this person that should shape the next conversation?
- What can I contribute that would be genuinely useful without forcing a transaction?
- Is my direction clear enough for someone else to recognize a relevant opportunity?
Choose one relationship you want to continue. Send something useful that connects directly to your previous conversation, then note the next natural reason to reconnect.