How to Use Networking to Explore New Roles

I tested 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (During my last job search and as a career coach). These 𝟱 get the highest response rates, especially from hiring managers👇 1. The Profile Viewer Message Check who viewed your LinkedIn profile. They’re already aware of you, don’t let that warm lead go cold. Try this: "Hey [Name], I noticed you stopped by my profile, appreciate you taking a look! Curious, was there something specific that caught your eye, or are you open to conversations around [industry/topic you're exploring]?" 👉 Tip: Warm > Cold. Always start with people who’ve already shown interest. 2. Acknowledge + Ask Find something unique about their background or a recent post, and ask a question. "Hi [Name], I saw your talk on [topic], your insight on [specific point] stuck with me. How did you land your current role at [Company]?" People love talking about themselves, especially when you show genuine interest. 3. Value First Offer a useful insight, article, or trend that aligns with their work. No ask, just value. "Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. Just came across this article, it touches on a similar trend. Thought you might find it interesting." Position yourself as thoughtful, not transactional. 4. Mutual Connection Approach Bridge a real mutual connection or shared experience. "Hi [Name], I noticed we both worked with [Person] / went to [School] / worked in [Company or Industry]. I'd love to learn more about your path, especially how you made the transition to [Role/Company]." Relatability opens doors faster than credentials. 5. Compliment + Curiosity Start with a specific compliment, then open the door. "Hi [Name], really enjoyed your article on [topic], especially your point about [detail]. Are you open to connecting with people exploring similar roles in [industry]?" It’s respectful, direct, and makes it easy for them to respond. Reminder: You don’t need to spam 100 strangers. Start with 10 meaningful messages a week. Track responses. Iterate on what works. Focus on warm leads, shared interests, and genuine curiosity. What template would you like to see next? If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want. ➕Follow Jaret André for more daily data job search tips.

When I first got into cybersecurity, I knew networking was key—but I had no idea where to start. Like many newcomers, I attended tech mixers, thinking they would help me build professional connections. But I quickly realized most weren’t about career growth. Instead of meaningful conversations, it was drinks flowing, music blasting, and people just looking to have a good time. Nothing wrong with that, but when it came to career opportunities, mentorship, or valuable discussions? Not much was happening. I’d leave with a few LinkedIn connections, maybe a vague “we should catch up,” but no real progress. That’s when I started looking for networking spaces where people were serious about cybersecurity—and these three made all the difference: ✅ 1. Local Tech Meetups Attending smaller, niche meetups changed everything. These events were filled with professionals sharing knowledge, career insights, and opportunities. I met people who helped me understand certifications, job roles, and career paths. If you’re serious about cybersecurity, look for meetups specific to your niche—whether it’s cloud security, risk management, or penetration testing. ✅ 2. Conferences Conferences exposed me to a higher level of networking. Here, people weren’t just making small talk—they were discussing industry trends, new technologies, and real-world security challenges. I met hiring managers, mentors, and peers who helped me advance in my career. Attending at least one conference per year is one of the best investments you can make. ✅ 3. LinkedIn & Online Communities I underestimated the power of LinkedIn and online networking. Engaging in cybersecurity groups, commenting on industry posts, and setting up virtual coffee chats helped me expand my network fast. I found tight-knit communities sharing job opportunities, study groups, and industry insights. These conversations led to referrals, partnerships, and new opportunities I wouldn’t have found elsewhere. Key Takeaway: If you’re early in your cybersecurity career, be intentional about where you network. It’s not about meeting people—it’s about finding the right people who challenge and inspire you. 🔹 Skip the networking events that feel more like a night out 🔹 Attend targeted meetups related to your field 🔹 Go to cybersecurity conferences where professionals are serious about growth 🔹 Engage on LinkedIn and join communities where real discussions happen Your network can open doors you never imagined. Where have you found the best networking opportunities in cybersecurity? Drop your thoughts below! 👇🏾 #Cybersecurity #Networking #CareerGrowth

Networking can help you make ANY career transition ↔️ I've made a handful of small/minor career pivots myself, and I have friends & family who have made even BIGGER career pivots. There is one common element that helped each career pivot/transition story, and that is NETWORKING ✨. This Forbes article by career expert Caroline Castrillon captures this element perfectly and discusses how strategic networking efforts can help you make a career change or pivot! Remember, networking should be a consistent effort, almost like a habit. Don't just start when you need a job or when you have some obvious agenda. When you try to network with an alternative or hidden agenda, it comes across as inauthentic and disingenuous. With that said, here are the high-level of Caroline's five tips for networking for a career transition and my take on them + real stories of how they actually work 💁🏻♀️ ~ 1️⃣ Give contacts a chance to help. Reach out to people you already know and let them know that you're transitioning, or even make a post about it on LinkedIn! Let the world and the universe know your status and what you're up to! You'd be amazed at the people that come out of the woodwork and want to help you. When I started putting it out into the world that I wanted to do more speaking engagements, opportunities started coming my way! Just try it and see what happens! 2️⃣ Get valuable career advice. When my Dad realized that law school was something of interest, after a full engineering career (30+ years, 2x PE & MBA), he talked to lawyers he knew, including one of his former colleagues at his previous job. A good question to ask, specifically if you're making a career change, is, "If you were just starting out, what actions would you take to kickstart your career?" 3️⃣ Meet other career changers. Talk to other people who have transitioned into your target career, and if you can, find someone with a similar path/trajectory i.e SWE ➡️ PM. This way, you can learn about proven, tested strategies that have actually worked for people. 4️⃣ Practice your transition statement. I like to think of this as an edited, curated version of your "elevator speech," and remember to frame it as a story. Storytelling is crucial in interviews, and when you're making a career change, it's important to tell that story in a compelling way. 5️⃣ Build confidence. I think Caroline captured it perfectly when she said, "...confidence is not an innate, fixed characteristic. It’s a skill that can be developed." When my mom was transitioning from civil engineering to real estate sales, she built her confidence by working under another broker and building her resume. I built my confidence through a product fellowship and 2 product management internships! TL;DR Build confidence through experience and projects! https://lnkd.in/gA8ihBtu

I’m putting my career coaching hat 🤠 on for a minute to give some unsolicited advice for job seekers. My advice: It's MUCH better use of your time to prioritize networking conversations over submitting applications. I generally advise a 50/50 rule (1 networking call for every application submitted), but I know other coaches are recommending an 80/20 rule, with an even higher emphasis on the networking chats. Networking conversations are much more likely to lead to your next role and, while I know this pushes some outside your comfort zone, you may be surprised that they can be inspiring and also more energizing than writing another cover letter. And, when I say networking, I don’t mean an email or post, I mean a real conversation over zoom 💻 , phone 📞 , or in real life over coffee ☕! These chats can lead to: ✅ Introductions to more people in your field/ region ✅ Ideas for organizations, listservs, and maybe even a job you hadn’t heard about ✅ A connection that can put in a good word for you if you apply for a role at their org/ former org ✅ Leads for consulting projects  ✅ A better understanding of a field you may be considering pivoting to ✅ A new contact/ friend in your world! My advice: Instead of searching for more jobs today, look through your contacts for 5 people to write to today. I’m a fan of searching Linkedin contacts for ideas, but this could even be your phone. You could write to an old colleague, others in your field, a friend from college, local friend, a neighbor who is in related work… and simply ask them if they have a few minutes to meet for coffee or over zoom. You can tell them you’d love to tell them a little about your search and what you are looking for and to get some advice, ideas from them and learn a little about their journey. I find more people are usually generous with their time and will agree to a convo and are maybe even flattered to be asked. I know it’s not easy out there. Keep your head high – your next great role is coming your way, but it’s more likely to happen sooner if you are smart with your time.

This is the homework I’ve given to hundreds of senior executives over the years, to help navigate their next professional chapter: Step 1: Make a list of the people who’ve seen you in action and know your value. Reach out and say: “I’m exploring ideas for my next professional chapter. Since you know me well, I’d love to use you as a sounding board.” This invites a thoughtful exchange—not a favor. If they have leads or ideas, they’ll offer them. Step 2: Get clear on what you love doing and what you’re great at. That intersection is your sweet spot for fulfillment and impact. Step 3: Identify companies and roles that truly excite you. Then craft direct outreach to senior leaders—no job listing required. There’s a war for talent, and CEOs and CHROs are always open to meeting someone who can move the needle. Just be sure you can articulate your unique value: why you, why now, why them. #ExecutiveCareerStrategy #LeadershipTransition #CLevelNetworking #CareerGrowth #TalentStrategy #BoardReady #CareerAdvice #StrategicNetworking

A lot of networking advice focuses on expanding your network – meeting new people. This is great, but reaching out to new people can be intimidating and overwhelming. I don’t hear nearly enough about how to effectively utilize your existing connections – and, by extension, THEIR existing connections. I’m not the most extroverted person ever, and reaching out to strangers was hard, especially when I first started my pivot out of academia. So I didn’t. I talked to my friends about my plans and interests. Several of them said, “oh, I know someone doing that work, do you want me to introduce you?” All I did was say yes, talk to those folks, and my network grew. But it’s not just that my network grew. Folks I met this way have shared job materials, talked to me about their work experience, introduced me to hiring managers, referred me for jobs, and been open to connecting with other friends of mine. People are, by and large, pretty darn generous. So here’s what I’d recommend: ✔ If there are organizations you’re interested in, look at their people pages on LinkedIn. Do you have any second-degree connections who work there? If so, ask your mutual connection for an introduction. ✔ Do NOT use this as an opportunity to ask for a referral. You want people to feel like you’re interested in learning from them, not that you’re just using them as a means to an end. ✔ Don't wait until you're job hunting to network. This should be a continuous, low-level practice that's always going on in the background. LinkedIn is about networking, so use those networks! #RecoveringAcademics #LeavingAcademia #Networking