How ChatGPT Can Help You Network: Part II

Welcome back to our series on how you can use ChatGPT to help build a professional network. Last time we spoke about how to generate initial networking messages in which you’re emailing a new potential network connection, so if you haven’t done so you can check out that blog here. Today, we’re going to show you how to get ChatGPT to draft follow-up emails, mentorship requests, and more. Let’s get started.

Follow-up Emails

Once you’ve made a new network connection, you’re going to have to maintain it. This often includes touching base with your network connections on social media or attending networking events as a group. After an event, you should always send a quick thank-you email to the person who went with you. Check out this example prompt and ChatGPT’s response:

Example prompt: Can you provide an example of an email that is being sent to a network connection that I recently spent time speaking with at an industry event? I want to thank them for their time and mention that I look forward to speaking with them again.

ChatGPT: Subject: Thank You for Your Time at [Event Name]

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the insightful conversation we had at [Event Name] last [day of the week]. I truly appreciated the opportunity to discuss [specific topic you talked about], and your perspectives were both enlightening and inspiring.

It was a pleasure learning more about your work at [Recipient’s Company] and your approach to [specific area or field]. Our discussion about [specific detail from your conversation] particularly resonated with me and has given me a lot to think about as I continue to develop my own career in [your field].

I look forward to the possibility of staying in touch and continuing our conversation in the future. Please let me know if there are any upcoming events or opportunities for further discussion. I would be delighted to connect again.

Thank you once again for your time and insights. I am eager to see where our professional paths may intersect moving forward.

Best regards,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Your Company]
[Your LinkedIn Profile URL]
[Your Contact Information]

Mentorship Requests

A professional mentor can be a great source of information and support, especially in the early days of your career. In most cases, you’ll have to make the first move when it comes to getting into a mentorship, and this can be done with a nice email. Here is an example prompt, along with ChatGPT’s response:

Example prompt: Can you provide an example of an email that is a request for an individual to be my mentor? I’m in my fourth year of college studying software engineering and the person I’m asking has a particularly impressive body of work, and I’m interested in learning as much as I can from them.

ChatGPT: Subject: Request for Mentorship from a Software Engineering Student

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Name] and I am currently in my fourth year of studying Software Engineering at [Your University]. I have been closely following your impressive body of work, particularly [mention a specific project, publication, or aspect of their work that you admire], and I am deeply inspired by your contributions to the field.

I am reaching out to you because I am eager to learn from experienced professionals who have excelled in the industry, and I believe that your insights and expertise would be invaluable to my growth as a software engineer. Your innovative approach to [specific area of their work] and your dedication to advancing technology align closely with my academic interests and career aspirations.

As I prepare to transition from academia to the professional world, I am seeking guidance on several fronts, including [mention specific areas where you need guidance, such as project management, advanced coding techniques, or industry best practices]. I would be honored if you would consider being my mentor.

I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and am flexible in terms of the structure and frequency of our interactions. Whether it’s through regular meetings, occasional emails, or any format that works best for you, I am eager to learn and grow under your mentorship.

Thank you very much for considering my request. I truly appreciate your time and look forward to the possibility of learning from you.

Best regards,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[Your LinkedIn Profile URL]
[Your University]
[Your Graduation Year]

Answering a Request

At certain points in your career, you may be on the receiving end of some networking requests. With the right prompt you can get ChatGPT to draft you a rather polite response email in which you’re accepting the request. Check out this example prompt and ChatGPT’s response:

Example prompt: Can you provide an example email where I am accepting someone’s request to network professionally with me?

ChatGPT: Subject: Re: Networking Opportunity

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

Thank you for reaching out and expressing your interest in networking with me. I appreciate your initiative and am pleased to accept your request.

I have always found that connecting with other professionals in our field can be incredibly enriching, providing opportunities to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. I am looking forward to learning more about your experiences and insights.

Please let me know a time that works for you to schedule a call or virtual meeting. Alternatively, if you prefer, we can continue our discussion over email or connect on LinkedIn.

Thank you again for reaching out. I am excited about the opportunity to connect and look forward to our conversation.

Best regards,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Job Title]
[Your Company]
[Your LinkedIn Profile URL]
[Your Contact Information]

Of course, you may decide to decline such a request for one reason or another. To do so, simply change “accepting” to “respectfully declining” in the example prompt above for a polite email declining the networking request.

Keep in mind that while ChatGPT is great for drafting up all kinds of messages and emails, you’ll still have to put some time in to make them sound human. Along with this, you might want to tone down the formality a bit if you’re very familiar with the person you’re sending a message to. When using ChatGPT to help you draft networking emails, try to see it as a pair of training wheels. In time, you should be able to craft well-written correspondence all on your own.