The Networking Performance Lab: A Battle-Tested Approach to a Tough Job Market

Understand why targeted networking outperforms application-only job searching

Understand the concept of a LAMP list to create a high-graded list of target employers as well as identify weak ties

Learn how to use Claude skills to quickly find contacts at target companies

How to craft effective outreach messages by evaluating emails from the recipients' POV. Adapt outreach according to relationship strength.

Evaluate email versus LinkedIn outreach. Follow up persistently without becoming irritating.

Use AI to draft and adapt outreach while retaining judgment and voice. Track outreach sufficiently that promising contacts do not atrophy.

Prepare for conversations without over-researching. Develop thoughtful questions based on a repeatable framework and structure.

Open a conversation confidently and establish context quickly. Listen actively and recognize useful signals that warrant deeper exploration.

Use AI to accelerate meeting research and question preparation without outsourcing the conversation itself so you can manage meeting time.

Evaluate what happened in a networking conversation and determine an appropriate next step. Close a coffee chat by asking for advice.

Write an effective post-meeting thank-you and follow-through message. Recognize differences between obligates, allies, and champions.

Identify methods to convert allies into champions to deepen professional relationship

Decide which relationships warrant active maintenance rather than trying to maintain everyone equally. Reconnect with a dormant contacts.

Use a periodic updates to stay visible rather than “just checking in” messages. Use LinkedIn selectively as a relationship-maintenance tool.

Establish a realistic cadence for maintaining relationships. Use AI to identify neglected relationships and reduce the admin burden.