Email can be a great way to connect with mentors and get valuable career advice But asking for advice over email requires thoughtfulness and care. With the right approach, you can make meaningful connections that will help you succeed
Do Your Homework First
Before reaching out to contacts, put in some prep work. Identify professionals in your network who could offer insights about your career path. Think about what type of guidance would be most helpful right now. Are you trying to learn more about a certain role or company? Looking for job search tips? Hoping to get candid feedback on your skills and experience? Defining your goals will allow you to craft more targeted requests.
Research the people you want to contact so you can customize your outreach, Study their career histories and current positions on LinkedIn Follow them on social media to become familiar with their interests and viewpoints, Read their blog posts and published writings, This will help you understand what makes them tick and appeal to their sensibilities,
Craft a Compelling Subject Line
Your subject line can make or break whether your email gets opened. So make it intriguing and personalized to capture attention.
For instance
- “Sarah Johnson recommended I reach out”
- “Quick question about transitioning from marketing to product management”
- “Seeking advice from a fellow University of Michigan alum”
Resist the temptation to use urgent language like “Urgent request” or desperate phrasing like “Please help.” This could inadvertently annoy busy recipients. Keep it short, compelling and respectful.
Introduce Yourself Concisely
Early on, briefly explain who you are and why you’re reaching out. For example:
“I’m a recent finance graduate from the University of Texas currently working as a junior financial analyst at XYZ Company. I’m hoping to learn more about transitioning into investment banking, and Sarah Johnson suggested I get in touch with you to get your advice on breaking into the field.”
This provides helpful context about you and quickly gets to the point of your request.
If the person you’re emailing doesn’t know you, give a 1-2 sentence summary of your background. List any connections you have in common to establish legitimacy.
“As a fellow Ohio State alum who also spent several years in management consulting, I’d love to take you up on your generous offer to provide career advice to young Buckeyes trying to get ahead.”
Thoughtfully Explain Why You Reached Out
After introducing yourself, explain why you selected this particular person to reach out to. Was it something specific in their background that made you think they could help? Did you read advice they shared that applied to your situation? Were you referred to them by a mutual connection?
Be clear about why you think this person is uniquely positioned to offer valuable counsel. This shows you did your homework and aren’t just blindly asking for generic advice.
“As someone who successfully changed careers from teaching to software engineering, I’d love to learn how you made that transition and get your advice on switching into the tech industry from a non-technical background.”
Get Specific About the Advice You Need
Now provide concise yet detailed information about the guidance you need. Explain your career dilemma or decision point and how the person’s insights could help you.
But don’t just say, “I’m hoping to get your advice on my career.” That’s too vague. Instead get specific. For example:
“As someone who sits on multiple nonprofit boards in the Seattle area, I’d appreciate any advice you have on joining a nonprofit board for the first time. I’m especially curious about the time commitment involved and any recommendations on identifying boards that may need someone with my HR background.”
Giving good context sets the recipient up to provide truly useful counsel in their response.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Pose open-ended questions that will spark reflection and draw on the person’s wealth of knowledge. This pulls them into a dialogue rather than putting them on the spot.
For instance:
-“What career lessons did you learn early on that you wish you had known sooner?”
-“How do you evaluate whether to stay in a stable job with average pay versus take a riskier role with more earning potential?”
-“What’s the biggest misconception you see about breaking into the marketing field?”
This draws out conversational advice rather than perfunctory replies.
Express Sincere Gratitude
Thank them sincerely for considering your request. Be gracious regardless of whether the person can help or not.
“I really appreciate you taking the time to read my outreach and provide any guidance you can offer.”
If the person has been exceptionally generous with their time or advice, send a handwritten thank you note after your exchange. This extra touch can help cement a lasting connection.
Include Options for Communicating Further
Close by offering different channels for continuing the conversation, such as:
- “If you have time for a quick 15-minute phone call to discuss this further, please let me know and I’d be happy to schedule something.”
- “If it’s easier to chat over email, feel free to reach out with any wisdom you’d be willing to share!”
Give them options to provide advice in whatever format works best for them. Don’t demand they take more time than they have.
Proofread Multiple Times!
Before hitting send, carefully proofread your email for errors or unclear language. Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Run spelling and grammar checks. Show it to a trusted friend to get an outside opinion.
You want to present yourself as polished, professional and considerate. Typos or clumsy writing undermine that. So take the time to refine your draft into an error-free final version.
Follow Up Politely
If you don’t receive a response within 1-2 weeks, consider a short, polite follow-up:
“I just wanted to follow up on my earlier email requesting career advice. I know how busy you are, so no need to respond if you don’t have availability. But if you do get a chance, I would sincerely appreciate any guidance you can offer.”
Be understanding if you still don’t hear back – the person is likely just occupied. Follow up once more at most to avoid becoming overbearing.
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Asking seasoned professionals for career advice is a proven way to build your knowledge and expand your network. But it requires thoughtfulness to craft respectful, compelling outreach emails. Follow these tips to tactfully request guidance that can provide a meaningful boost as you navigate your career journey!
Come prepared to the meeting
Spend some time thinking about the questions you want to ask. Write them down in case you blank mid-meeting, and list them in order of importance. Depending how much time you have with the person, you may not get to them all. Forget questions you can easily answer online. Instead, ask about details missing from the person’s bio, social media profiles and published interviews with the media. Take notes during the call or meeting; the last thing you want to do is email the person afterward to ask for a recap.
Work around your contact’s schedule
I work 45 to 60 minutes from downtown Seattle, depending on traffic. At least once a month, someone invites me to coffee downtown for the express purpose of “picking my brain.” First of all, that sounds painful. Second, I don’t have the three midday hours such a meeting would require. So I ask people to come to me or call me after business hours.
To increase your odds of getting the meeting, ask where, when and how would be convenient for your contact. For many people, it’s at their desk or the café down the street from their office. Ask for just 20 to 30 minutes of their time. If they want to give you more, they will. Be prepared for anything. Some people prefer walking meetings. Others only do Skype calls or Google Hangouts. If the meeting’s important enough to you, you’ll go with the flow. And by all means, pay for their coffee.
How to Send an Email That Asks for Career Advice
Should you ask someone for career advice?
Before you ask someone for career advice, it’s a good idea to research the industry you’re interested in and find out the basics of a career on your own. This can allow you to maximize your time interviewing a professional because you won’t have to ask questions about the basics of a career choice.
How do I ask for career advice in an email?
Here are some steps you can take to ask for career advice in an email: 1. Engage in research and preparation Before you send an email, it’s important to research the industry or job title that you have an interest in so that you can gain insight into the basic requirements for the career.
How do I get career advice?
If you’re unsure who to email, you can research companies in the industry that you’re interested in and check their websites to see if it’s possible to email someone to request career advice. You can also use social media to ask professionals if they’re willing to provide their emails to you.
Should you use email to request career advice?
Using email can ensure that they’re able to take the time necessary to evaluate your request and respond to it effectively. Using email to request career advice can also help you be a little more detailed and prepared in your approach, whether you’re sending the email to a college professor or a career coach.
