Whether you’re after a new role, a promotion, or your next client, your network is where it starts.
It started with a text
This fall, one of my clients was interested in a role at a large law firm. As we talked it through, I realized a former colleague from my public accounting days works there. We hadn't worked together in years, but we had stayed in touch. I sent her a short text asking if she'd be open to a quick chat with my client, and she said yes.
That moment reminded me of something I see often in coaching. A job search can start to feel like applications, portals, and waiting. Yet so many of the opportunities my clients find come through people. This season, another client landed her new role after reconnecting with a recruiter she had met on LinkedIn months earlier.
So this National Career Development Month, I want to ask you one question: who knows you're looking?
A quick self-check
When a search stalls, it's easy to assume something is wrong with you or your résumé. Often the gap is access, not ability. A recent NCDA article on stalled job searches makes this same point. Before you send another application, take a minute with these three questions:
How are you hearing about openings right now?
Who in your field knows what you're looking for?
When did you last talk with someone who can see into hiring at a place you'd like to work?
If your answers are mostly "job boards," "no one," and "I can't remember," you're not alone. The good news is that networking isn't one thing. There are three doors in, and you can choose the one that fits where you are right now.
Door 1: In person
If you're actively job searching, job fairs and hiring events are a great place to start. November is full of them, and you'll find several in this issue of our newsletter.
Here's my one ask: aim for one real conversation, not a stack of business cards. When I prep clients for a job fair, I encourage them to ask at least one question that helps them learn about the workplace itself. Something like "How does your team recognize good work?" gives you a genuine conversation and real insight into whether you'd want to work there.
Before you walk away, ask for a business card or if you can connect on LinkedIn. Then write down their name, contact information, and one detail from your conversation, whether in your phone or on paper. Keep it all in one place you'll easily find again, like a single notebook or contact list. You'll want it later.
Ask yourself: Which upcoming event could I attend this month, and what's one question I'd love to ask there?
Door 2: Digital
If you're mid-career and short on time, LinkedIn may be your most efficient door. During my recent training to become a Certified Digital Career Strategist (CDCS), one idea stuck with me. LinkedIn works best as a place to build relationships, not just a place to apply.
A few features make this easier than many people realize:
Catch up (under My Network) shows you when your connections start new jobs or mark work anniversaries. That's a warm, natural reason to say hello.
Groups and Events connect you with people who share your field or interests, even before you know them.
"People you can reach out to" sometimes appears on job postings, pointing you to connections at that company.
When you do reach out, skip the blank connection request. Add a short personal note that names what you have in common, mentions something specific about their work, and keeps the ask light, like following their insights. Before you send it, make sure your profile tells your story well. It's often the first thing they'll check.
Want a simple roadmap for writing that first note in your own words? [Grab our LinkedIn Networking & Outreach Guide here.] (Mal: add the guide's link once it's live in the store.)
Ask yourself: Who is one person I could reach out to this week, and what do we have in common?
Door 3: Community
If you're changing careers or building a business, your next connection may already be part of your local community. Professional associations, local business groups, library and career center workshops, and volunteer roles all bring people together around shared goals.
For entrepreneurs especially, working on your own can feel isolating. Community spaces give you peers who understand what you're building, and they often become your strongest source of referrals.
If you're building a business, SCORE is worth a look. It's a nonprofit, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, that connects entrepreneurs with experienced volunteer business mentors, and most of its offerings are free.
My one move here: show up more than once. The first visit is an introduction. The second is when people start to remember your name and what you do.
Ask yourself: Which group or event in my community connects to where I want to go next?
The habit that connects all three
Whichever door you choose, one habit can make a real difference. Follow up within 48 hours, and mention one specific thing from your conversation. That detail you saved? This is where it comes in.
It can feel small, but it's what turns a quick hello into a connection you can return to months from now. My former colleague said yes to my text because we had stayed in touch. Every reconnection starts with a first connection.
Your next step this week
The holiday season is a natural time to reach out and to give back. People are reflecting on the year and are often more open to a friendly note. Volunteering in your community is another way to meet new people while helping others. Before the month ends, try this:
Reconnect with one person from a past job, school, or community. Write your note in your own words: why they came to mind and one thing you'd like to hear about from them.
Make one new connection through the door that fits you best.
Follow up within 48 hours with one specific detail.
Give back in one way, such as volunteering at a local event or organization that connects to your goals.
If you'd like support building a networking plan that fits your goals, I'd love to help. Book a free consultation, and let's talk about who should know you're looking.
Malerie Baker, MS, CCSP, CPRW, CDCS Founder, FRM Collective
