How to Build a Professional Network While Working from Home

Networking when everything is remote is very challenging - especially for the post-production crew where everyone is sitting in their various homes all day at a computer. Need I say how important it is? People just starting out in their careers are at a huge disadvantage working remotely since they miss out on all those encounters in the halls that can lead to new opportunities, building ties with all the other freelancers on whatever job they are currently on. I love working remotely, but it definitely impacts the kind of day-to-day networking that we all need to strengthen connections, make new ones, and find the next great gig. Besides the "go to industry events and talk to people" basic advice, think about how the gig you might have right now can lead to future gigs. Here are some ideas about networking-while-remote for assistant editors (and everyone else). What would you add? ✂️ Reach out! Honestly, most editors I know are on the introverted side. That's partly why they are editors. So if you are their remote assistant, reach out to them. Ask questions. Ask to look at cuts and works in progress and then make observations and ask thoughtful questions. Email them and kick-start a correspondence about editing theory (personally, I would love this from an assistant). ✂️ You may be overwhelmed with tasks, but make a commitment to take a few moments every day to make contact with someone on your team about something not immediately connected to this moment in the project. ✂️ Email a cameraperson or a producer and comment on a great shot or well-covered scene. Ask a good question and start a conversation. ✂️ Ask a producer if you can have a few minutes to chat about their process, or how they got to where they are. Research what other things they have done so you have some stuff to talk about. ✂️ Don't wait for someone to mentor you - ask for it. ✂️ Call up the production manager when you are several weeks in, and thank them for hiring you - what a great time you are having, how interesting the project is, what you've learned. (Or email them.) ✂️ Use the production slack message board, or whatever, to start interesting conversations. Maybe bring up a recent documentary you saw, or other general industry topic. Look for ways for more people on the team to know your name. ✂️ When the project is over, write to every person on the team and make some comment or observation about what a great job they did (keep a list for this as you work). Be sincere. Ask them them to keep you in mind, and send them your CV. Basically, don't just hunker down and do a great job, dependably. Get your name in everyone's minds. These are the people that will be recommending you for your next gig and don't miss the opportunity to get them to remember you. Full disclosure - I wish I'd taken more of this advice myself. I tend to be more of a hunker-down-and-do-a-great-job type! What other ways can you think of to network on the job?

“Networking is awkward.” You know what’s more awkward? Graduating in May 2025 and applying to 127 jobs with… zero callbacks. Let’s fix that with networking ideas no one’s talking about. and I mean actionable.. 1. “Reverse Research” Your Way Into a Conversation Instead of asking people what they do, show them what you know about what they’ve done. How to do it: Find someone on LinkedIn in your target company/role Read their posts, podcasts, or panels they’ve been on Then send this message: “Hi [Name], I came across your [talk/article/post] on [topic]—your point about [insight] made me think differently. I’m researching [industry], and would love to hear your take on [specific follow-up]. Would it be okay to connect?” That’s conversation built on respect. 2. Book Club for Industry Geeks Start a virtual book or podcast club for your industry. Invite professionals to speak at the end of each cycle. How to do it: Pick 3 peers + 1 book or podcast Create a simple calendar (4 weeks = 4 touchpoints) End with a “Wrap-Up” Zoom chat—invite a guest Post your takeaways on LinkedIn and tag them Because learning together? Is the strongest way to network. 3. Write A “Public Thank You” Post on LinkedIn You probably learned something cool from someone recently. Now imagine you posted it publicly, gave them a shoutout, and showed how you applied it. How to do it: Tag the person Share what they taught you Share what you did next Ask your network, “What’s something YOU learned from someone this month?” You just gave free visibility, created a loop, and 10 people will want to talk to you after. 4. Turn Informational Chats into Co-Creation Networking chats often stop at “thanks for the time.” What if it didn’t? What to do: After the call, send a note: “Hey [Name], based on our chat about [topic], I drafted a small idea to build on your advice. Would love your thoughts!” Create a graphic, short write-up, or project plan (just 1 page!) Now you’re not just a student. You’re someone they collaborated with. That’s relationship-building, not just networking. 5. The 5-5-5 Strategy Most people get stuck on who to reach out to. Here’s a weekly formula: 5 People You Admire (Founders, creatives) 5 People From Your School Network (Alums, professors, guest speakers) 5 Peers Who Are Also Job Hunting (Build a support circle, swap leads) Message all 15. Repeat weekly. That’s 156 conversations in 3 months. You don’t “find” jobs—you build the path to them. Reminder: Networking isn’t about who has the fanciest title. It’s about who remembers you when an opportunity comes up. Be the person who listened, learned, shared, and followed up. If you’re reading this and job searching— try one new method this week. Not next month. Not when it feels “less scary.” Now. You’re not late. #May2025Grads #NetworkingTips #CreativeCareerMoves #JobSearchStrategy #InternationalStudents #GradJobHunt #BeyondTheResume #HumanConnection #Topmate

The 10-minute daily habit that's helped my clients land remote roles 3x faster than traditional methods... 👇🏼 Most remote job seekers spend HOURS each day scrolling through the same job boards as thousands of other applicants. Sometimes all these need is a few simple shifts or “hacks” to stand out from the crowd… After helping hundreds of people land remote jobs, I've learned success comes down to consistency with the right activities - not the time spent. I call it the "10-Minute Connection Method" - and it's dramatically outperforming traditional application strategies. Here's exactly what to do: ✅ 1 // Identify ONE ideal company each day Don't spread yourself thin across dozens of random postings. Research and select a single company that truly aligns with your skills and values - whether they're actively hiring or not. ✅ 2 // Find TWO people to connect with Locate someone in your target role and someone on the hiring team. Don't just follow them - study their recent posts and activity to understand what they care about. ✅ 3 // Make ONE meaningful engagement This isn't about generic comments like "Great post!" Leave a thoughtful, value-adding response that demonstrates your expertise and perspective. Make it impossible to ignore. ✅ 4 // Track everything in a simple system Keep a spreadsheet of your daily connections with follow-up dates. This turns random networking into a structured pipeline of opportunities. — The power of this approach is in the compound effect: // After 5 days: You've made 10 strategic connections // After 30 days: You have 60 potential pathways to hidden opportunities // After 90 days: You've built a network of 180 people who can refer you internally — My client Jason had been applying to remote marketing roles for 4 months with zero interviews. Within 3 weeks of implementing this method, he had conversations with hiring managers at 5 companies - 3 of which weren't even publicly hiring yet. The most surprising part? This approach actually SAVES time compared to endless application submissions, while delivering drastically better results. Remote work is fundamentally about relationships and trust. Shouldn't your job search reflect that? Here’s to us “escaping the cubicle” Wes 📌 Remote job searching? Comment “resume” and I’ll send you my Remote Resume Checklist to help you get started. #remotework #jobsearchtips #resumewriter 🎥 (@chandanartacademy)