Networking tends to make even the most extrovert people feel a bit queasy. It brings up images of going to an event to schmooze people to try to get something from them.
To make a career change though, reaching out and talking to people we don’t yet know is an essential part of the process. Googling and asking Chat GPT what it’s like to do the jobs you’re interested in will only get you so far.
Talking to people gives you real world information that answers questions such as: What does a normal day actually look like? How did you get started in this work? What’s enjoyable? What’s not so enjoyable? What skills are important? What tips might you have for someone like me if I want to move into this work from a different background? What do people see as the future for this sector?
The insights you can gain from these questions are gold. But if your initial reaction to the idea of networking is something like “sounds awful and no thanks” the first thing to do is to drop the networking label.
All you’re really doing is having chats with people. You don’t need to sell yourself to them because you aren’t asking them to find a role for you in their company. Your objective is to gather information, so you can simply be yourself in curious mode. So try relabelling networking to “exploring” or “meeting people for curious conversations”.
Here are some tips on how to go about exploring:
Finding people to speak to
You might assume you won’t be able to find someone who does what you’re interested in. But if you cast your net widely enough, you might be surprised. Think about the groups of people you know – friends, family (if you’re in a relationship, include your partner’s friends and family), previous colleagues, people you were at school or college with, people you might have met on a course, neighbours, people in a sports team or who you know through a hobby.
Once you have some names, it’s time to contact some of them.
Making your request
Start small. Maybe with a WhatsApp group you feel comfortable in. Or you might want to start with just one person who you know is great at connecting people – there’s normally one person in our circle who loves to do this.
Whoever you start with, send a message explaining that you’re looking into new career directions and would really appreciate their support in finding people in the sectors you’re interested in.
Be clear that you’re asking if anyone knows someone working in X field(s) who you could approach for a 20 – 30 minute chat over Zoom or a coffee to find out more about their job, how they got into it and the sector in general. You’re definitely not expecting whoever they put you in touch with to find a role for you in their company.
Using LinkedIn
You can also search for people in the areas you interested in on LinkedIn which filters job titles by location and sector. You might find you have a connection in common with someone you know, so you could ask for an introduction. Or you can reach out without one. If you do this though, remember not to take it personally if you don’t receive a reply.
Do a dry run
If the idea of having a curious conversation feels intimidating, start by having one with a friend or family member just to see how it goes. It doesn’t matter that you aren’t interested in whatever they do. Prepare your questions and see how much information you can gather in a 20 or 30 minute conversation. My clients find this helps them to feel more comfortable.
Always ask for someone else to speak to
Before you finish your conversation, ask for another contact who the person you’re speaking to thinks could be helpful for you.
And finally, just be yourself.
Being curious and appreciative of someone’s time is enough.
