A career change can be exciting and challenging. And suppose you’ve made up your mind. In that case, one thing is sure: Developing meaningful and intentional networking and building genuine relationships internally and externally is essential for your transition in your professional life. I have some effective networking tips for you.
Whatever domain or industry you might be in, having an impactful network supports and speeds up your career change. It will give you insider tips, new perspectives, and contacts to build upon, which are the keys to professional success.
7 Effective Networking Tips for Career Change
Being a professional in the middle of your career, you don’t have the luxury of trying and getting experience in any field. Though networking will bridge the gap, you need to be informed and have some opportunities that you can use and leverage.
Here are some tips for developing an impactful network:
1. Define Your Goals
What are you looking for? Internal job promotion or outside opportunities? Which positions or departments? Knowing your clear goal and objective, will give guidance and support your networking strategy.
2. Research
Do your research. Who are the key players in this industry? Who might be influential? Which companies do I want to work for? Is it private or public sector? This identification of the direction will be your foundation for attending webinars, conferences, and in-person meetings.
3. Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage
LinkedIn is a powerhouse for building connections. The first step is to check and update your profile. From experience, I know that professionals don’t spend too much time on their profile optimization. And this is so important. Is your headshot photo the latest one? Don’t leave a photo that is 10 years back. People want to recognize you in person when they see you. Have a nice banner picture reflecting your hobby, professional aspirations, and passion. Don’t leave the default grey LinkedIn background.
You have 220 characters to use for your tagline, where you can tell the world what you bring to the table. Use this as your billboard. You are a brand, and you have lots to offer. Say it, show it.
Identify professional humans over LinkedIn, whether in the company you want to work for or the profession. Send them a message, not only a LinkedIn connection request. First, don’t ask for a job; just connect with kind words of appreciation of their latest posts or just that you like to meet people and want to stay connected.
4. Attend Networking Events and Meet-ups
In-person events are always the best, as they allow you to build rapport and foster stronger interactions, where ideas and sharing flow more fluently.
Although it might be daunting to start the conversation and approach someone you do not know, believe me, they are humans, as you are, and everyone is looking to connect with someone they do not know. What helps is to be prepared with a personal elevator pitch, and the rest will come.
Another tip to get going in the conversation is asking open questions.
5. Prepare Yourself and Your Narrative
Once you have decided on a career change, many people ask, “Why do you want to change?” You get your salary, and that’s it. Be prepared your personal story on your “WHY”, highlighting your transferable skills and ambitions. This is important for any introductory meeting, an interview, or other crucial professional meeting.
6. Active Listening and Follow-up
Networking is not only talking about yourself. It is a two-way relationship. Henceforth, it is essential to demonstrate listening and asking open questions. Show genuine interest in what your counterpart is saying, ask open questions, and give them space to talk. You don’t need to talk about yourself necessarily; let your partner finish what they want to say.
After meetings and networking events, follow up with the people who might be interesting to you and can be influential for your future career progression via email or LinkedIn. In both cases, it is essential that the message is personalized and has a call to action. Meeting up for coffee in the same town or for an online meeting.
7. Being patient and determined
Building relationships doesn’t happen overnight. Strong relationships need nurturing, maintenance, and consistency. Building trust and rapport is complex; you must find the red thread that resonates with your networking circle. You need to give before you take. The same applies to building solid and meaningful relationships, such as asking how to help them, offering support, or your time.
My tip: connections are all human, like you are. One way is to go on LinkedIn daily for a maximum of 10 minutes and check out “Catch Up. ” You will see who has birthdays and anniversaries. Simply add a personalized message for their important day. That will foster your relationships and remind the counterpart to look at your profile.
Consistency is critical, though. I do this every day without exception.
Final Thoughts
Networking is necessary for career changers and your foundation for attaining your professional goals. With intention, purpose, and clear goals, a strong network will be your pathway toward your desired destination. Either directly or indirectly, it will impact being in contact with a decision-maker or an opportunity for a volunteer position when you can showcase your abilities.
Humans do business with humans. Enjoy, have fun and in case, I am here to help.