How to Network for HR Career Advancement

Dear Debbie, Everyone tells me I need to network to find ajob, but I’m an introvert.  Do I really need to network? If so, how do I do it? Networking Novice in Nashville Dear Networking Novice, I totally get it—networking can feel daunting. Throughout my science and technology policy career, I have hated evening receptions, dinners, and the numerous other events that are part of a Washington, DC, policy life. Yet, it's a key part of the job search puzzle and your long-term professional life. I still reach out to contacts I made at events years ago when I have a question. Think of networking as a way to gather insights and understand the job market better, rather than expecting immediate job opportunity identification or offers. It’s like planting seeds for future opportunities. Here’s how to start: 1. Define Your Purpose: Understand why you want to network. Are you looking to gain industry insights or clarify job roles? Do you want to determine if you’re a good match while considering pivoting to a new career path? 2. Craft Thoughtful Questions: Prepare questions like, "What does a typical day look like in your role?" or "What skills are essential for success in this field?" Also, ask how they see the job market for their field and gather suggestions on where to find jobs. 3. Identify Contacts: List 5 "warm" contacts you know and 5 "cold" contacts you don’t. This will help you build a diverse network. Put together a database to keep track. 4. Create a Reach-Out Plan: Write LinkedIn and email message templates to connect with these contacts. Start with warm contacts to gain confidence. Develop a brief profile, shorter than your resume, as background information for your emails and DMs. 5. Follow-Up: Don’t forget to thank the person who chatted with you and let them know where you eventually find employment.  Networking is a long-term effort, not a short-term one. Networking opens doors to hidden job markets and can even lead to mentorship. Remember, every conversation is a step forward. Ready to draft your first outreach message, Networking Novice in Nashville? Debbie

Karishma, I don't go to events. How can I network then? Most people think networking means industry conferences and LinkedIn events. But, people - your vibe attracts your tribe. How you show up - everywhere - determines the opportunities that find you. Let me tell you a habit of mine. I dress up wherever I go. Grocery store, coffee runs, everywhere. Because you never know who you'll meet. Once I was at the grocery store when a woman approached me. We started talking, and it turned out she worked at Amazon. By the end of our conversation, she said, "You run your own business, otherwise we had an opening and would have loved to hire you." That's networking. In the produce aisle. You're missing the biggest networking opportunity right in front of you: Your coworkers. How you come dressing up at team outings and meetings can help you stand out. The person who can change your career might sit just one floor away. I see this mistake constantly with my clients. They spend 100s on networking events but never talk to anyone outside their department. Here's how to network internally: → Show up as your best self every day - how you present yourself matters. → Say hi to new faces in the office. → Join company social events and employee resource groups. → Meet in person when possible, not just over Zoom. → Share your expertise with colleagues from other teams. Internal networking gives you three things external networking can't: i) Visibility. More people know your work and achievements. ii) Credibility. Colleagues see your results firsthand. iii) Opportunities. You hear about openings and projects before they're posted. The math is simple. Your next promotion, project, or mentor is probably already working at your company. How you let people see you - both inside and outside your office - attracts the kind of opportunities you want. Stop networking like your career depends on strangers. Start with the people who already know your company's culture and challenges. Your internal network may be the secret path for your career growth.

Building a high-level network is the best way to create 'career insurance' - Here are 7 ways you can network BEFORE you need a job And yes - I've done each of these myself. 1 - Connect a high-level leader to someone looking for podcast guests. Become a connector. Find podcast hosts that would be interested in leaders at your firm. 2 - Plan a 'Career Growth' session at work; invite select managers and leaders as guest speakers. Speaking opportunities will appeal to some leaders; give them an opportunity they can't pass up. 3 - Publish a collaborative LinkedIn article - reach out for quotes and comments from leaders or managers in the space. Reach out to 5–6 leaders and ask for 1 quote on an industry trend. Compile their insights into an article or post; tag them, and amplify their visibility. 4 - Send them an "I built this based on..." message Find a keynote or panel where a leader shared a framework or insight. Build a visual, write an article, or make a slide based on the idea; send it to them. 5 - Send a Video, but Make it About Them Instead of pitching or requesting, record a short video sharing a story of how their work impacted you or your team. Keep it under 60 seconds. 6 - Create a 'Modern Mentorship' Series Turn your learning journey into content. Interview 10 high-level leaders via email or LinkedIn DMs and ask 2-3 thoughtful questions. Share each response as a short post. 7 - Send Periodic 'Gratitude Messages' A simple message thanking them for their inspiration - or something valuable they taught you. Have you tried any of these proactive networking approaches? Let me know if/how they worked. ♻️ Repost if you found this list helpful! Follow me for daily job search strategies.

If you are a mid-career HR practitioner, I'm going to share two pieces of advice that have both nourished my career and led to more strategic job opportunities: 1. Meet with vendors regularly. This includes taking demo appointments, engaging with more than the free swag at conference expos, and approaching sales conversations with curiosity. Imagine your technical limitations if you were still operating on Windows 98. New products, enhancements and solutions would be swirling around you, but you would be at a major disadvantage, even if you were a world-renowned power user of an outdated technology. The same goes for your profession. In order to stay relevant, you need information about the shifts and trends in the work you do. Vendors almost always have recent market research they use to inform their product or service, and sometimes they completely disrupt and innovate our industries which can impact your organization, externally or internally. 2. Do not neglect your network. For the first 10 years of my career, I did not network outside my organization. At the sage advice of my mentor, I joined a local SHRM chapter (shout out to Salt Lake SHRM) which led to leadership opportunities, both within the chapter and for my career advancement. From there, I started attending non-HR networking events in various business industries which led to a deeper personal brand. I was often the only HR person there, which led to consulting projects and speaking engagements. These opportunities would have been limited if I wasn't actively engaging with my network. This takes many forms, from sharing wisdom and insights on LinkedIn, to meeting a contact for lunch, to sending a text to check in on someone, to curating a connection between two people who may benefit from knowing each other. The common thread in this advice, in case you missed it, is the value of human connection and its influence on your career aspirations. The cliché that, "it takes a village" is cliché for a reason. We aren't meant to do it alone.

Networking is NOT about collecting contacts; it’s about connecting with those contacts. I’ve seen people grow their careers, close new deals, and grab unknown opportunities out of nowhere because they knew the right people, AND those people trusted them. Like they say, your network is your net worth; it’s about who knows YOU and believes in you. ✅ Here are 3 nuggets on how you can network like a pro: - Lead with value, not with asks: When you meet someone who immediately asks for a favor, you feel sales-y and awkward, right? Don't be that person. Instead, offer something of value first. - Ask better questions: Everyone asks, “What do you do?” and forgets the answer 5 minutes later. Stand out with unique questions that spark real conversations. Ask, 1. What’s the most exciting thing you’re working on right now? 2. What’s one challenge you’re trying to solve? 3. What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? People don’t remember what you did; they remember how you made them feel. - Stand out by following up: Most people meet once, exchange numbers, and never speak again. That’s only meeting people. If you want to stand out, go the extra mile, send them a personalized message, and stay in touch. A simple follow-up can turn a chat into a long-term relationship. The best jobs, biggest deals, and most unexpected opportunities don’t come from cold applications. They come from relationships. Networking isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifelong habit. Start today. My personal and professional network has expanded significantly through the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and NextUp, both of which are valuable professional organizations. I personally believe the best way to network is by volunteering your time and skills—demonstrating your expertise to peers and industry leaders rather than just telling them about it. What’s the best networking tip that’s worked for you? #networking #career #growth #leadership #success

How Are You Approaching Your Job Search? As someone who interacts with HR candidates daily, I often ask this question. Whether actively seeking or passively exploring, simply applying to job postings and hoping for the best isn’t enough. To truly excel in today’s job market, leveraging and expanding your network is essential. Personally, Every job I have ever gotten in my career has been through connecting with people in my network. I even got a job one time by way of Justin Timberlake’s catering manager. True Story! - Build Meaningful Connections: Your relationships can significantly impact your job search. A strong network helps you stand out from the sea of candidates and opens doors to opportunities that aren’t always advertised. - Don’t Hesitate to Connect: Reach out to people you don’t know on LinkedIn. Introducing yourself and making new connections can lead to unexpected opportunities. - Start Networking Early: If you're considering a career move, begin attending networking events now. Cultivate relationships with industry professionals who can provide valuable insights and referrals. - Leverage Your Existing Network: Don't hesitate to reach out to your connections. Your current role may require strategic networking, but your trusted circle can be incredibly supportive. In a world where job stability is less common due to acquisitions, layoffs, and shifting work environments, staying informed and connected is crucial. Don’t just keep your head down and focus solely on your current role—be proactive and aware of opportunities outside your company. Remember, a robust network is a key asset in navigating your career journey. Keep building and nurturing your connections to stay ahead! #JobSearch #HRjobs #FloridaHR #Networking #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerAdvice

part 3: how i landed my current l&d role in ~ 5 months 🎊 as my career aspirations changed, i needed to make sure that my community reflected this new direction. 🤝 to do this i followed the ‘rule of thirds’: 1️�� a third of your network should be people doing the job you want to do next. whether you’re pivoting into a new career, looking for a promotion, or just looking to make a switch, a third of your network (*this includes who you’re connect with/follow on social, who you network with, communities you belong to, etc.*) should be people who are doing the job you want to do next. 🙋🏻♀️ for me this meant shifting my network from job seekers and other l&d entrepreneurs to getting super dialed in to other learning leaders. it had been a few years since i worked in full time l&d so this allowed me to drop right back in to current pain points and trends my future peers were experiencing. 2️⃣ a third of your network should be people who are 2-3 steps ahead of you in your career. most people under-index on being in community with people who are a few steps ahead of them. having a network of folks who are essentially in the ‘hiring manager’ roles for the type of job you want next allows you to be super plugged in to the types of conversations happening at that level, what’s important to them, and how your type of role can solve *their* pain points. note: this does NOT mean only connecting with people who are hiring managers with open roles. (watch the vid for more on why that’s not a good strategy 😅) 🙋🏻♀️ going back to alignment (video 1), i already knew the ‘profile’ of who i wanted to work for, so i started connecting and chatting with heads of hr who oversaw a global workforce and valued l&d. this allowed me to understand what they were laser focused on and how the work i was looking to do aligned with their needs. when it came time to interviewing with *actual* hiring managers, it was clear to them i was already dialed in. 3️⃣ a third of your network should be people who inspire and motivate you. this is a bit of a grab bag (and most OVER INDEX here), but make sure your network includes people who lift you up. this could be current peers, other career transitioners, influencers, authors, etc. this third does not have to tie directly into l&d, but does have to make you feel inspired when you see their content, join their community, or interact with them. 🙋🏻♀️for me, this meant cleaning up my network. there were people id been following that did not inspire me when i saw their content, and in fact, made me feel deflated. i was super intentional about who i was spending my time interacting with, and really leaned in to a core group i trusted. at the end of the day, you’ll know you have a solid community when you are consistently able to learn from, leverage, and lean on it, and in return, your community is able to learn from, leverage, and lean on you. community is a multiway street, so make sure to treat it as such. 🫶