Effective Networking Strategies for Career Changes

A single coffee chat changed the game for me. ☕️ Not because it led to a job. But because they asked one simple question at the end: "Is there anyone else you think I should talk to?" 🤯 Wow, why had I never thought to ask that? I introduced them to another person in my network who I thought would be a good connection for them. The next time I had a coffee chat, you better believe I used this same strategy. That one question turned one conversation into two. Then those two turned into ten. Before I knew it, I had a full calendar and a growing circle of people who knew my name and my story. Most people stop after one chat, then go back to cold outreach and get frustrated when people don't respond. But networking isn’t about collecting names. It’s about building relationships. And some amazing relationships can be ignited through a warm intro. People want to help. They just need a nudge. The next time you’re on a coffee chat, don’t just say thanks and sign off. End with: 👉 “This has been so helpful. Is there anyone else you think I should connect with as I explore [insert your goal]?” If you're a clinician navigating this networking thing for maybe the first time in your career, this approach can change everything. You don't need to know everyone—just someone who knows someone. Keep the chain going. One chat at a time.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿. 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸. That it was only for extroverts, salespeople, or those who knew the “right” people. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The truth? LinkedIn changed my career more than any job board ever could. From landing internships to publishing research and breaking into power & energy, the biggest opportunities in my career didn’t come from job boards—they came from building the right connections. Yet, so many professionals hesitate to network strategically because they: * Feel awkward reaching out to strangers * Don’t know what to say in a cold DM * Fear getting ignored or rejected I get it—I used to be the same way. But once I started using LinkedIn the right way, I landed mentors, internships, and research opportunities that shaped my entire career. Here’s How You Can Do It Today: ✅ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 * Look for professionals in your target field (engineers, hiring managers, senior leaders). * Use LinkedIn’s “People Also Viewed” section to find similar profiles. * Join industry groups to see who’s actively sharing insights. ✅ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 Forget “Hi, can I pick your brain?” That doesn’t work. Instead, try this: 💡 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗠 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲: “Hi [Name], I came across your profile while learning about [topic]. I admire your work on [specific project]. I’d love to hear your thoughts on [question]. Would you be open to a quick chat?” ✅ 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗗𝗠 * Like and comment on their posts genuinely * Share their work and add your insights * Make your name familiar before sending a message ✅ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 People respond better when you bring something to the table: * Share an article or resource relevant to their work * Offer a fresh perspective on one of their posts * Ask a specific, thoughtful question instead of just “Can you help me?” The Outcome: I’ve used this exact strategy to build meaningful relationships that led to: ✔ Internship opportunities before I even applied ✔ Research collaborations that boosted my career ✔ Insights from industry leaders that I couldn’t find anywhere else If you’re not leveraging LinkedIn for strategic networking, you’re leaving opportunities on the table. 💡 Try this today: Pick ONE person you admire, craft a thoughtful DM, and hit send

I changed careers 5 times in 15 years and here's what I learned... 1️⃣ Learning a new industry isn't harder than learning a new company. Focus on transferable skills over industry knowledge. Even when you switch jobs within the same industry, there is a big learning curve for how another company operates. Focus on understanding your transferable skills more than harping on lack of knowledge about the industry. This was true for me when I switched from finance -> consulting -> hospitality -> two sided marketplace startups. 2️⃣ Convincing hiring managers of your value is key. Seek workplaces valuing diverse backgrounds and ideas. It's frustrating that people don't want to give you a chance just because you come from a different industry. But you won't succeed working under someone so narrow minded anyways, so look for places to work where they value diverse backgrounds and ideas. Some functions naturally look for specific skillsets like former ibankers or consultants because they value how a person thinks over specific industry experience. 3️⃣ Networking is crucial for career changes. Recruiters and hiring managers may quickly pass on your resume when lacking context given the number of applications they receive. However, when you can explain to someone why you want to switch careers and emphasize those transferable skills, you're more likely to get into the interview process vs. cold applying. So tap into your network and see who can pass your resume along or fill out an internal referral form on your behalf. 4️⃣ Your next job doesn't have to be your forever job. Which means look for an opportunity to switch industries where its easy for you to get your foot in the door. Often that means applying for the same type of job you had previously, but in the new industry, even if you want to move out of that type of work. It will be easier to move internally if you pick the right company, than to switch industries and functions all at once. When I left consulting I didn't want to keep working in "strategy" roles, but those were the roles more apt to hire former consultants. So I took one of those strategy roles and then leveraged my success to move into other parts of the organization after 2 yrs. 5️⃣ Progress takes time. Embrace step-by-step changes for long-term success. Sometimes when we are ready for a change, we can get impatient and want it to all happen immediately. Instead, aim for progress and step wise change as it will fuel you over the longer term which is necessary for making big changes. It took me 3 years to make my last career change, but I took the process step-by-step and couldn't be happier now in my current career. --- What have you learned from making a career switch? #careerchange #careercoach - - - - 🖐🏽 I’m Jess Wass, CEO & Founder of Reworkit 💥 I help overachievers find the best places to work and help organizations who want to become the best place to work.

“I’ve applied everywhere. I’ve heard nothing.” If that’s you right now... Let’s pause. Let’s pivot. Because what if the answer isn’t more job boards... but new doors you haven’t knocked on? If you're a May 2025 grad (especially on an F-1 visa), job searching in the U.S. can feel like running a marathon in a fog. But here’s a secret: You don’t always need access to the C-suite. You need a crack in the door. And cracks? You can create them. Here are networking strategies you haven’t tried yet—and how to do them in real life. 1. The “Alumni Stack” Strategy Instead of a one-off message to one alum, build a chain. How to do it: Search for alumni from your school on LinkedIn Use filters: industry + location + company (e.g., “Data Analyst” + “Bay Area” + “Visa Inc.”) Reach out to 5 with a message like: “Hi [Name], I’m a May 2025 grad exploring roles in [field]. I noticed you’ve made a transition I really admire. I’d love to hear 2 mins of your journey—no pressure to respond, just grateful to learn from alumni like you.” Once you speak to one, end by asking: “Is there someone else you’d recommend I reach out to next?” That intro makes the next conversation 10x easier. It’s like referrals—but for insight. 2. Start a “Career Curiosity” Newsletter (Even if it’s just 5 subscribers) When you share what you’re learning, you become a magnet. How to do it: Pick a free platform (Substack, Beehiiv, LinkedIn articles) Once a week, share what you're learning in your job search: 1 resource (course, tool, podcast) 1 insight (“What I learned from shadowing a UX designer”) 1 question for your readers Share it with people you admire: “Hi [Name], I’ve started a small newsletter where I unpack career tools and lessons as a new grad. I mentioned your work in the latest edition—thank you for the inspiration!” Suddenly, you’re not just searching. You’re creating conversation. 3. Offer to “Intern” for 1 Week (Unpaid & Project-Based) It’s bold—but bold gets remembered. How to do it: Identify small companies, startups, or nonprofits you genuinely care about Find a task you could help with (BIM audit, website UX review, blog writing) Reach out with: “Hi [Name], I’m a recent grad learning [skill]. I’d love to offer 1 week of help—free—on a micro-project your team’s too busy to finish. I’ll treat it as a capstone, and you get a finished piece of work. Open to it?” Even if they say no—you’ve made a lasting impression. And if they say yes? That could turn into a referral or a role. Final Thought: Most people think networking = asking for jobs. But real networking? It’s creating a reason to stay in someone’s mind—long before you ever apply. Your goal isn’t to impress. It’s to connect. To show up with curiosity. To leave behind a feeling that says: “This person is going somewhere.” Try just one idea this week. #JobSearch2025 #NetworkingWithoutCringe #InternationalStudents #GradLife

My client, a senior data scientist in health tech, just received a $165K offer because of this: We've been working 1:1 to get clear on their next step after feeling stuck for months—riddled with overwhelm and imposter syndrome. Before then, they had no clarity on what role they wanted next. Their resume and LinkedIn profile told two different stories. Every rejection felt personal, feeding their imposter syndrome and making it hard to keep going. Networking felt overwhelming and random (which is fine, but not effective). So what changed? 3 things: 1) Clearer, more specific career direction 2) A cohesive resume and LinkedIn profile But 3 has been the wildest unlock: 3) A targeted networking strategy. Once their approach changed, they not only landed conversations with key decision-makers… But they built momentum and started attracting the right roles without overthinking every step. Before, their networking efforts looked like this: — Applying to roles without tailoring their outreach — Sending connection requests with no clear purpose — Hesitating to reach out for fear of being ignored or judged Now, their strategy looks like this: — "I noticed you're hiring for [role]. I'd love to connect and learn more." — "After reading [company's recent news], I'm excited about how [role] can help drive that growth." — "I'm currently transitioning into [industry/role] and would love your advice on how to break in." See the difference? ❌ Less guesswork ✅ More intentionality But that's not all. We got crazy specific with how they targeted their outreach: — The exact role they wanted — The companies they cared about — The decision-makers they needed to know — The message they wanted to deliver — The clear value they offered This works because your outreach strategy determines who responds and how quickly you move forward. It's like a magnet. Attract the right people and have the right conversations, and it's only a matter of time before you get that offer. Get it wrong though? You're spinning your wheels. P.S. If you're feeling stuck and: ➝ struggle with focus challenges or overthinking ➝ have zero clarity on what you want to do next ➝ have a confusing resume and LinkedIn profile ➝ want a strategy that plays to your strengths I'm opening up spots to work 1:1 with 3 US-based professionals to help them do just that. DM me "Clarity" and I'll send you details. (coaching is not free)