Networking and making connections is an invaluable part of career growth and success. However, simply making a new connection is only the first step. It’s equally important to follow up and thank the person who connected you, not only out of courtesy but also to nurture that relationship for potential opportunities down the road.
Why You Should Thank Your Connector
There are several key reasons why it’s important to thank someone who has connected you with a person or opportunity:
- Shows appreciation. A quick thank you note demonstrates that you value the connector’s time and effort in making the introduction.
- Creates goodwill. Expressing gratitude helps build goodwill and establish reciprocity in the relationship. They’ll be more inclined to help you again in the future.
- Supports your reputation. Following up reflects positively on you as a courteous, conscientious networker who remembers favors.
- Encourages referral. Thanking your connector makes them more likely to connect you or refer opportunities to you moving forward.
- Develops the relationship. Showing appreciation lays the foundation for an ongoing, mutually beneficial professional relationship.
In short, a sincere thank you note strengthens your connection with the person who helped facilitate your new contact or opportunity. It’s just good networking etiquette.
How to Thank Your Connector
When composing your thank you for a connector, keep these tips in mind:
- Thank them specifically. Mention the person they connected you with by name. If it was a general referral, say what you were connected to.
- Note the value. Explain how this introduction was helpful and what you gained from it, if possible.
- Share follow up. Provide a brief update on how your meeting, interview, project, etc went that came from the connection.
- Reiterate appreciation. Include a sentence directly thanking them for connecting you or taking the time.
- Next steps. If relevant, mention you look forward to staying in touch in the future.
Here are a few sample thank you notes for a variety of networking scenarios:
Got a Job Interview
Dear Jane,
Thank you again for connecting me with Sarah from ABC Company last week. I had an interview with her yesterday for the marketing coordinator role and wanted to let you know it went really well. I truly appreciate you taking the time to make this introduction for me. Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do to return the favor!
Best regards,
Tim
Received Mentorship
Hi Thomas,
It was so great to meet with you last Tuesday to discuss my career goals. I really enjoyed learning from your experiences and gained valuable insights into progressing into management. Thank you for generously taking time to mentor me – it was extremely helpful. I hope we can stay in touch! Let me know if you would ever like to get coffee and continue our discussion.
Thanks again,
Lisa
Got Advice
Dear Mr. Anderson,
I appreciate you taking my call yesterday to advise me on negotiating job offers. Your tips around evaluating the entire compensation package and trailing to find competing offers were extremely useful. I felt much better prepared walking into my meeting today, and wanted to thank you again for sharing your expertise with me. Please pass along my regards to Stacy for connecting us.
Regards,
Michael
In all cases, keep your thank you note brief, specific and sincere. Email is usually the best channel as it’s quick and convenient.
When to Send Your Thank You
You should send your appreciation to your connector as soon as possible after their introduction leads to a meeting, opportunity, interview or other outcome. Strive to thank them within 24 hours.
The timing matters because:
- It’s top of mind. Reach out while the details and value of the introduction are fresh.
- It shows care. A prompt thank you displays thoughtfulness and attention.
- It seizes the moment. Sooner is better to nurture the relationship during this opportune time.
- Delay dilutes impact. Waiting too long makes the gesture feel less meaningful.
As soon as you have something to update your connector on, take a few minutes to thoughtfully compose and send your appreciation.
Thank You Examples
Here are a few examples of emails, notes or messages you can send to thank someone for their help connecting you:
Email Thank You
Subject: Thanks for the introduction!
Dear Mike,
I wanted to send you a quick note to say thanks for connecting me with Diane at XYZ Company. We had a great conversation yesterday about potential opportunities at her firm. I really appreciate you making the personal introduction for me, and hope we can stay in touch moving forward.
Best,
Claire
Handwritten Note
Dear Mrs. Patterson,
Just a short note to thank you for connecting me with your former colleague, Marcus. We had a wonderful informational interview last week discussing his career path in our industry. I truly appreciate your support and guidance as I navigate my early career. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to return the favor!
Sincerely,
James
LinkedIn Message
Hi John,
I just had coffee with the marketing director you introduced me to yesterday. It was incredibly helpful to hear about her experiences and get her advice on breaking into marketing. Thanks again for the warm introduction – I really appreciate you thinking of me for that opportunity. Hopefully we can connect again soon!
Best,
Julia
Who to Thank for Connections
There are many people throughout your network who may warrant a thank you for support or introductions, not only direct referrals. Here are some examples of who to thank:
- A colleague who passes your name along for an internal role
- A friend who shares an open job with you at their company
- A vendor who connects you with one of their contacts
- A former manager who refers you to someone in their network
- A professor who shares industry connections with students
- A peer who invites you to an event to meet new people
- A family member who puts you in touch with their friend
- A mentor who offers advice that helps you land a job
Anyone who provides a warm introduction, shares an opportunity, makes a referral, or gives advice that leads to professional growth is worth thanking. A small gesture goes a long way in strengthening your relationship with that person.
What if Your Connection Doesn’t Pan Out?
Sometimes an introduction or referral someone makes for you doesn’t pan out – but you should still thank them. Here are suggestions if a connection doesn’t lead anywhere:
- Note the effort. Thank them for thinking of you and making the effort to connect you.
- Detail your interaction. Describe who you met with and what you discussed, even if there was no tangible outcome.
- Stay positive. Keep your tone upbeat and appreciative in the note – don’t complain.
- Provide closure. Supply a next step if you plan to follow up more or explore other options.
- Keep the door open. Reinforce that you hope to stay in touch in case other opportunities arise.
You absolutely still want to thank the person for bridging the connection, even if it didn’t yield an immediate result this time. Your note doesn’t have to dwell on the lack of outcome – stay focused on the relationship.
Other Ways to Show Gratitude
In addition to a simple thank you message, here are some other meaningful ways to show your appreciation when someone connects you:
- Connect them to someone. Offer to make an introduction for them in return.
- Send a gift. Mail a small gift like a coffee gift card with a thank you card.
- Recommend them. Proactively endorse them on LinkedIn or to colleagues.
- Check in periodically. Continue to nurture the relationship with periodic check-ins.
- Get more involved. If they connected you to a professional association, engage more actively in it.
- Spread the word. Tell colleagues about the value of the connection they facilitated.
Look for meaningful ways to reciprocate and demonstrate your appreciation, when appropriate.
Thank You Examples Based on Who Introduced You
The exact thank you message you send may vary slightly depending on who facilitated the connection. Here are examples tailored to different relationship dynamics:
Colleague Introduction
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for putting me in touch with Ben in product development. We had a great conversation yesterday about potential cross-team collaboration opportunities. I really appreciate you thinking of me for that introduction! Let me know if there are any opportunities for me to reciprocate by making connections to someone in my network who could be helpful. Looking forward to seeing you at the team meeting next week!
Best,
Ryan
Former Manager Introduction
Dear Mr. Thompson,
I hope you are doing well! I wanted to thank you again for introducing me to your former colleague Julia, who I interviewed with last week. She was able to provide great insight into the company and role over coffee. I truly appreciate you taking the time to facilitate that valuable connection. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can ever return the favor!
Regards,
Lauren
Vendor Introduction
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for connecting me with your client, Evan, about graphic design opportunities with his company. We had a nice chat and I’m excited about potential freelance projects. I really appreciate the referral – it was so thoughtful of you to think of me. I look forward to continuing our work together on the Johnson account! Let me know if there is any way I can help connect you to new client opportunities in return.
Best,
Steven
Informal Mentor Introduction
Hi Mr. Andrews,
I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to let you know that I spoke with the marketing director at XYZ Company last week who you kindly introduced me to, and it was an extremely helpful informational interview. I’m so grateful that you took the time to make that connection and share your advice with me as I start out in my career. Please let me know if I can help connect you to any of my professors or former colleagues!
Thanks again,
Amy
Friend Introduction
Hey Tim!
Quick note to say thanks for introducing me to your friend Sarah at that event last night – it was great to meet her and chat about her experience in my field. Super appreciate you going out of your way to make that connection! Let me know if you ever want to grab coffee or a drink after work one day. Talk soon!
– Mike
Don’t Forget to Follow Up After Thanking
Your thank you note is just the starting point – you’ll want to continue nurturing relationships where someone connected you. Here are some tips for following up:
- Ask if they need any help or connections from you.
- Connect on LinkedIn if you haven’t already.
- Invite them to grab coffee or set up a quick call to catch up.
- Share updates if the opportunity leads to more – like getting hired!
- Periodically check in and update them on your career progress.
- Offer to help if they are job searching themselves.
- Forward relevant articles or other resources you think would interest them.
Look for meaningful ways to continue the relationship after your initial thank you note. This ongoing engagement will lead to more opportunities to collaborate over the long term.
Key Takeaways
Connecting others is the heart of networking and building relationships. When someone provides you with a valuable introduction or opportunity, be sure to thank them appropriately:
- Send a thank you note promptly – within 24 hours when feasible.
- Note specifics on who you connected with and the value it provided.
- Reiterate your sincere appreciation for their effort.
- Follow up after with additional gestures to reciprocate.
- Nurture the relationship for potential future collaboration.
A simple gesture of gratitude goes a long way in strengthening your network and advancing your career.