I wrote about networking in one of my earliest posts. Since then I have worked with a few clients who are going through career transitions. Some are looking for a new job in the same industry, and others are looking to make a complete shift.
In either case, networking is essential. The subject line today is a quote from one of my clients 🤣. She followed it with, “I have to TALK to people?” She was kidding… kind of.
Even if you are not actively making a change right now, it’s a great idea to continuously build your network so that it’s ready to tap into when it’s time to make a change. It’s something I wish I spent more time on earlier in my career. But I got comfortable where I was. I built my network passively – connecting with people I met naturally through work, but not putting in significant effort online or at events. And not nurturing my network through active communication.
What makes networking so hard for some of us? It can be incredibly draining. Networking requires that you have one-on-one conversations with people you don’t already know or haven’t spoken to in a long time. For an introvert, that takes a tremendous amount of emotional energy. So if you don’t HAVE to do it, it’s pretty easy NOT to.
But some day you may be faced with a sudden career transition. And now you will NEED your network. So no matter where you are, now is the time to start building this skill and building your network. There’s never a bad time for this work.
Here are my top tips for networking during a career transition.
- Begin networking now, no matter your timeline. Networking is most effective when you are asking a person to talk about themselves, not asking them for a favor. You want your networking to be focused on “tell me about your role, your experience at X company, how you spend your day, the best and worst parts of your job” not “Do you know of any available roles.”
- As you have these conversations, you will be top of mind for the people you talk to. If they become aware of any roles, they may naturally think of you, especially if you had a good conversation. So don’t worry about not being explicit there!
- When you reach out to connect with someone you don’t know or don’t know well, request a specific amount of time and be respectful of that time. “Would you have 15 minutes in the next week or two to connect?” or even “I have time on Friday at 11 – any chance that would work for you?”
- Prepare for the call. Think about your goal, and have 3 questions prepared that will get the person talking about things that matter to you. If you aren’t prepared with good questions, you run the risk of not getting the information you need. Being prepared also serves as an escape hatch for an awkward silence!
- End with gratitude for their time, an offer to reciprocate if it would be helpful to do so, and an indication that you’d like to keep in touch. My standard line is “I really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective with me, and if there’s ever anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s stay in touch on LinkedIn.”
I recently conducted more than 20 15-minute networking calls in a one-week period. I asked the same three questions of each person, never went over time, and came out with an incredible amount of useful information – as well as new contacts and refreshed connections with colleagues from many years ago.
It takes practice and preparation, but I promise it’s worth it – and it will become easier.
What tips do you have for job seekers who need to build their network? For those of you out there who struggle with networking, what additional tips or resources would be helpful to have? Share your ideas below!
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