What are the best practices for reaching out to a professional contact in environmental engineering?

1 Identify your goal

Before you send an email or a message to a professional contact in environmental engineering, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the communication. Do you want to ask for advice, information, feedback, or a referral? Do you want to explore a collaboration, a project, or a job opportunity? Do you want to invite them to an event, a webinar, or a podcast? Having a specific and realistic goal will help you craft a relevant and concise message that respects your contact's time and interest.

2 Do your research

Once you have identified your goal, you should do some research on your contact and their background, expertise, and current work. You can use various sources, such as their LinkedIn profile, their website, their publications, their social media posts, or their media appearances. The purpose of doing research is to find out more about their professional journey, their achievements, their challenges, their values, and their passions. This will help you tailor your message to their interests, demonstrate your genuine curiosity, and establish a common ground.

3 Write a personalized message

The next step is to write a personalized message that introduces yourself, states your goal, and explains why you are reaching out to them. You should keep your message short, clear, and polite, and avoid generic or vague phrases. You should also highlight your connection to them, whether it is through a mutual contact, a shared affiliation, a common interest, or a relevant experience. You should also mention something specific that you learned from your research, such as a compliment, a question, or a comment. Finally, you should end your message with a clear call to action, such as asking for a meeting, a phone call, or a reply.

4 Follow up and follow through

After you send your message, you should wait for a reasonable amount of time before following up. Depending on the urgency and the nature of your goal, this could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You should not send multiple messages or spam your contact, as this could be seen as annoying or disrespectful. Instead, you should send one or two follow-up messages that remind them of your initial message, restate your goal, and express your interest and appreciation. If you get a positive response from your contact, you should follow through on your call to action, such as confirming the meeting details, preparing the agenda, or sending the relevant documents. You should also thank them for their time and attention, and keep them updated on your progress.

5 Build a relationship

The last step is to build a relationship with your contact, beyond the initial communication. You should not treat your contact as a one-time transaction, but as a potential long-term connection that can offer mutual benefits and opportunities. You should keep in touch with your contact, by sending them occasional messages, sharing useful resources, congratulating them on their achievements, or inviting them to your events. You should also look for ways to add value to them, by offering your help, feedback, or referrals. You should also seek their feedback, advice, or mentorship, and show your gratitude and respect. By building a relationship, you can increase your chances of getting more support, guidance, and opportunities from your contact in the future.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?