I just landed a job as an EA, but it’s not exactly at my dream magazine. I’m really hoping to move to a different publication within a year or two.
I have a sort-of contact at the magazine I’d like to work for—she’d been very nice via email when I was trying to apply for an internship at her magazine and she encouraged me to check back with her about freelance staff spots every 4 or 5 months during my job hunt, even though they rarely use freelancers.
My question is: Since we’ve never met in person AND because I just started my new job, how would I go about keeping myself on her radar for the next year? Would an informational interview be a good excuse? I just don’t get this whole networking thing…
Why don’t you e-mail her
Why don’t you e-mail her and say something like “hey—wanted to let you know I got a job at TK. Thanks so much for all your help and would love to meet you sometime. Can I treat you to lunch or coffee in the next few weeks?” Put the emphasis on thanking her and then when you meet you can sort of dig around—I wouldn’t call it an “informational” but think of it more as a networking event—who knows, you may be working at HER dream mag! Besides, I think she honestly will be interested to hear where you ended up … I know I always hate it when I give interns/ppl advice over e-mails and then they dissapear and I never know what happened to them—