People who take the time to give career advice to strangers are doing it because it feels good to know they’re helping someone else — so complete that circle for them by letting them know that they did help, and later letting them know how it worked out. The most effective networking letters are those that immediately and clearly express your intention in writing to the recipient, whether asking for career advice, introducing an industry colleague, asking for a referral, or expressing your thanks for the assistance they have provided you. Understanding how and why to reach out to a recruiter is critical to accessing their support during the process. View an example of how to reach out to someone you don’t know (a referral, someone you have not spoken with or written to in the past). Someone who has had their first interaction with you on an online platform is unlikely to do you such a huge favor. She is now an invaluable mentor for my career. With a few years' experience helping others along their career paths, he shares some advice on how you can increase your employability by reaching out to those with careers you admire. Whenever I take on a new role, my goal is … Harry Freedman is a career coach and founder of the Career Advice Centre. But you know more people than you think, and there’s a very good chance that at least a few of these people know someone else who can give you career advice or point you to a job opening. After graduating, he struggled to find work. This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional . Remember, you’re asking someone you haven’t talked to in a long time to help you out. You may think that you don’t know anyone who can help you with your job search. Recruiters are a good example of this and play a valuable role in helping you research and secure a great job. Ben, 26, moved to London for university. Job networking tip 1: You know more people than you think. Tips for Writing a Networking Letter . They reach out with the hope that the person will help them land their dream job or recommend them to someone who will give them a job. Now, Ben works for an international recruitment agency. Tip 2: Take action – Be proactive and reach out for a first meeting. These expectations are way too high. Like all relationships, building trust and rapport takes time. And definitely let the person know if his or her advice (or leads) helps you get an interview or land a job. One of the relationships I built with an executive was purely based on our informal chats in the hallway about our personal lives, travels, etc. He is the author of How To Get a Job In A Recession . This is by far the hardest tip to follow for most people. If you want to reach out to someone for advice, below are some tips from my personal experience to make sure you build a bridge the right way. Write a thank you note if you end up talking. The best career advice I ever received was to 'always leave a position or department better than you found it.' Reaching out to someone in the position will allow you to learn how that person got to where they are, and you may also be able to connect with their boss, the hiring manager. Come with specific questions. You may need to meet a few times and get to know them, learn about their current career and goals before asking them to be your mentor.