How can I effectively network in a new field?
Let's go and find your people!
I asked ChatGPT what the first 10 questions are that career changers ask. Number four on the list: How can I effectively network in a new field?
I’m currently in a pivot in my business. This is why my inspiration for these posts comes squarely from ChatGPT.
UNLESS - of course - YOU tell me what YOUR burning questions are about changing your career!
Next week: What additional training or education might I need?
What questions would YOU like me to give my take on in this newsletter?
How CAN you network in a new field?
You know, sometimes this IS the first thing on people’s minds, I’ve found.
And it is for a number of reasons:
You’ve worked in the same field - or even for the same employer - for a LONG time and are worried that your world has become VERY small.
You’re an introvert, you are anxious and are concerned that if you start talking to people in a completely different field without having it all sorted out you will make a fool of yourself
For these reasons I take this question VERY seriously. Very seriously indeed.
Because it could be THESE reasons that are keeping you stuck - before you’ve even STARTED!
What is networking?
Let’s start here. So, what IS networking:
Networking is the activity of building and maintaining relationships with people who are connected by a common career, industry or interest, with the aim of developing your career and gaining and sharing knowledge, opportunities and connections.
This is the sort-of official definition.
So let’s break this down a bit.
The ACTIVITY of building and maintaining relationships
We network all the time.
In work we identify quickly WHO we need to get to know to be able to do our work and take active steps to get to know them, find the common ground and how to work together, so that we can get our work done.
We also - or if not we should! - spend time thinking about the advancement of our career by becoming visible and talking to the right people at the right time.
What lots of us DON’T do? See networking as an ACTIVITY. Not setting the INTENTION of building our network to expand it in the direction we want to take our career in.
Instead, over time, we may even be at risk of restricting our networking activities to just ‘getting the job done’ or leave our network to chance.
With people who are connected by a common career, industry or interest
OF COURSE we network with people in a common career or industry. We do it all the time, don’t we? We talk to our colleagues, go to networking or industry events, we talk on online forums, we talk online or in person to people who also are in your profession or industry.
Similarly for people with the same interests: we are part of the same Facebook or LinkedIn groups, go to clubs, attend fairs, talk to people who know about the things you like.
With the aim of developing your career and …
Does this make you feel a bit - I don’t know - sleazy? Does this make this whole networking thing feel a bit - transactional?
You might well say that. Lots of us do. (And if you want to know more about this feeling of it all being a bit transactional then read my article here: The missing ingredient in networking)
Women, especially women, have been taught not to shine the spotlight on themselves, not to boast. We’ve been told that ‘ambition’ is a dirty word (it’s not, you know, and you can find out MY take on it here: Is ambition … wrong?).
Kamala Harris said it best:
Not all women aspire to be humble
Ambition is simply what you WANT. What you want out of and in your career.
Yes, there’s bias and the fine balance between being likeable and being assertive that still pervades society and the world of work. (And if you wanted to read a great book about this then read Alison Fragale’s excellent book Likeable Badass).
But advancing - or changing - your career and using networking as a tool to make that happen? Nothing wrong with that!
Gaining and sharing knowledge, opportunities and connections
What I like about this part of the definition is the reciprocity of the unspoken networking agreement. It’s SHARING knowledge, opportunities and connections. It goes both ways. You give and ask, ask AND give.
Doing away with the ickiness (scientific term) of the feeling of networking being transactional.
Why DO you feel nervous about networking?
Here are just some of the reasons you might feel nervous about networking:
You have not maintained your network
You believe your network is too small
You don’t know people in the new field
You think you don’t have enough to offer
You’re introverted or shy
(Am I missing any? Let me know in the comments!)
Weak ties and strong ties
You’ve heard of this, right?
Your strong ties are the people you interact with regularly. They know you. They know what is happening for you. And yes, you probably have already shared with them what you want to do and THEY have already shared with you ALL their ideas, their advice and any connections they might have.
This is why WEAK ties are your super strength. Science tells us that you can have up to 150 ‘productive’ connections or weak ties. People you DON’T talk to all the time. People you have met and connected with, but who you only casually interact with.
One hundred and fifty people! Who themselves have 150 people in THEIR network!
How to network - ESPECIALLY in a new field
Know your goals
There are many reasons why you may want to start networking, but when you’re changing your career I can see THREE:
Clarity - You’re exploring who YOU are. And sometimes the people closest to you will be able to tell you EXACTLY what THEY think your strengths are. Your goal is: Clarity (and a nice little confidence boost to go with that, thank you!)
Curiosity - You’re curious about someone’s career. You’re exploring if this career could be for you. At this stage you’re not sure you want to commit to following this career path, but you’re certainly open to it. You want to know what it’s like to work in this field, what the day-to-day reality is, Your goal is: Exploration
Opportunities - You’ve chosen a new career path. Now you’re ready to make your career change happen and are open for opportunities. Your goal for networking is: Job Search
Immerse yourself
Does this sound funny? It probably does. What I mean is this: when you’re thinking of making a career pivot into a new field, the best way to get to know this new field is to immerse yourself in it.
Read about it, become a part of (online) groups, comment on people’s posts online. So that, when it comes to meeting people in real life or online you feel you’ve BECOME that person, that person that might - some day - be working in that field.
Identify your ideal connection
I’m going to share with you one of the most IMPACTFUL things I’ve learned about networking over the last few years.
Your ideal connection (or weak tie) is someone who has consistent, long-term relationships and access to the people you’re looking for. Someone who can introduce you and maybe even put in a good word.
Your connection could be someone who works in the field or has close connections to the field you’re interested in.
And I’ll give you another tip: LinkedIn is a GREAT way of identifying who this could be! Because if you search LinkedIn for second connections in the job or company you’re looking at you *might* find the exact someone who provides the link between you and your ideal job, industry or company!
Build your network
Be intentional with building your network. Networking - as we’ve seen - is an ACTIVITY. Something you DO.
Especially when you’re changing careers it’s VITAL to revive old connections and start building up your network for the goals you’ve identified.
Connect in a way that works for you
Once upon a time networking was this awkward social occasion of standing in a room full of strangers, desperately looking around for the right person (or anyone, really) to talk to.
Of course it isn’t like that anymore. Or it doesn’t have to be, anyway. Which is good news for those of you firmly in the ‘introvert’ camp, but really for all of us. None of us wants to feel uncomfortable or come across as socially awkward. So connect with people in a way that feels comfortable to you!
Create the right environment for a conversation that feels right for you: online, or in a cafe, on Zoom or face to face.
Maintain your network
Have you ever received a ‘Thank you’ note from someone? Or a message saying ‘Thinking of you’? Or someone sent you an article that they thought you might like?
Nice, right? It’s a really easy way to maintain relationships, to say hi, to stay connected and it doesn’t take you a lot of time.
Oh, and the benefit of doing this? The NEXT time you want to make a career move you won’t feel awkward or worried at all!
Conclusion
Sometimes women come to me and as one of their BIG barriers they see networking in a different field. I hope that this article helps you a bit to alleviate some of these concerns.
But what I REALLY want to say is this.
When you’re changing careers you’re going on an exploration. You’re exploring a new direction. In that field you’re going to meet other people. People who - potentially - might become your new colleagues.
When we work together we will talk about your values. One of the reasons for that is that we want your new career to feel like HOME to you. Somewhere where you can be totally authentically, fully YOU. Amongst your colleagues, your TRIBE, of people who get you and enable you to do your BEST work.
THAT’s what all this exploring and finding out is all about.
That’s why I once wrote ‘networking is meeting interesting people’, in my free download ‘How to make networking fun!’
And also:
Taking a new direction in your career is BRAVE, a step a lot of people will ENVY you taking.
Asking to talk to someone about THEIR career path, THEIR profession, THEIR field or industry is NOT an imposition, but an honour! And you’ll find that people are more than happy to talk to you.
Making networking not only interesting or fun, but an exciting part of your career change journey.
In other words? DON’T let your fear of networking STOP you before you’ve even BEGUN your journey. Instead let’s work on your networking strategy and go and find YOUR people!
You ready? I can’t WAIT!
Tineke x
P.S. Talking to people is one of the most important things you can do as part of your career change journey. In the Career Freedom coaching programme I’ll be supporting you to slowly but surely expand your network and ask your network for help (which I KNOW they’ll be happy to give you!)
Want to know more? Book a free call in which we can discuss YOUR specific situation and you can ask me all your questions:
Doodle YOUR Journey - for joyful confidence
Have you EVER had trouble telling someone your career story? Do you feel that talking about your accomplishments is like bragging? Do you just not feel confident talking about yourself?
You're not alone. Even the most accomplished, successful women I talk to in my Visual Coaching sessions stumble when I ask them about the things they feel PROUD of or they're GREAT at.
THAT's what we'll be changing with my Doodle YOUR Journey workshop!
In one FUN afternoon you will:
Learn to draw some basic icons that you can use in YOUR 'Visual Bio'
Practise talking about your strengths and achievements, without feeling 'icky' about it
Use a fun template to chart YOUR career journey
Meet like-minded, creative women
Have FUN
AND take away a GREAT reminder of a GREAT career (so far)!
(Here’s one I prepared earlier 😉)
Come and join us in a joyful celebration of YOUR career for this truly one-off opportunity at this price.
Saturday 30 November 2024 from 2 to 4.30 pm UK time
Coming?
🔴🟡🟠
Tineke Tammes is a Career & Creativity Coach who supports professional women in making successful transitions to careers of Freedom, Flexibility and Fulfilment! Besides that she is also a lifelong feminist, part-time portrait artist, never-only-read-one-book-at-any-time reader, and obsessive doodler.
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