Type: Evergreen
Sidebar: Veteran Jobs
Category: Veteran Jobs
Related Topics: Veteran Jobs, Military Transition, Career Advice
071824, Lida Citroën,
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You've likely heard the saying, "It's not what you know, but who you know, that matters." When it comes to attracting the right opportunities, finding career success and staying connected to your community, it's partly true.
Unless your goal is to work alone on a remote island with no internet, you'll be around people. And knowing the right people is important! Those people not only need to know who you are, but also what you stand for, care about and can offer that's valuable. Only then can they support, endorse and refer you in ways that matter.
Your network should include:
- People you work with (direct reports, managers, individuals in other departments, senior leadership)
- People you've served with in the military
- People you've served alongside in the community (through volunteerism and other mutual interests)
- People you respect in your industry (thought leaders, individual contributors, people you admire and like and people with information and influence)
- People you know or regard who are positive, upbeat, funny, loyal, creative, generous and helpful.
If you surround yourself with these people, your career path forward becomes richer, more informed and meaningful. These people will help you clarify your goals, direct you toward opportunities (especially ones you might not see), encourage you when you feel frustrated and introduce you to other people you should know and who should know you.
So how do you meet them?
1. Organize Your Current Contacts
Using a spreadsheet, paper and pen or set of Post-It notes, write down everyone you know (excluding family and close friends). Organize your list of contacts by the categories above. Look at your contacts online and in person.
2. Identify Who's Missing from Your Network
With this list organized, where do you see gaps? Do you know more people from your time in the military but haven't gotten to know your work colleagues and bosses? Find the areas of opportunity, then identify specific people who fit those categories that you would like to meet and know.
3. Find Them and Introduce Yourself
Online, we have a unique opportunity to connect with people around the globe, whom we may never encounter in person. Look up who you'd like to know on sites such as LinkedIn. Are you already connected to them? Are you connected to someone who's connected to them? You can direct-message the person you want to meet on LinkedIn (using InMail) or ask your mutual connection to introduce you. Offer to help script the introduction so you ensure it's done correctly. State why you'd like to meet them and suggest you "connect" on the platform.
In person, find common interests to afford you opportunities to meet them. For example, do they attend a local networking event? Are they a supporter of the arts (you can see this on LinkedIn)? Are they going to a conference you want to attend? When you meet them, introduce yourself and begin a professional but relaxed conversation. This isn't a sales pitch; it's a networking meeting.
In conversation with people in your network, reinforce your value proposition by introducing it into the discussion where appropriate. For example, if talking about a new project you're taking on, you could offer, "I'm passionate about this project because it aligns with my core values of teamwork, innovation and lifelong learning."
The more you intentionally highlight who you are, what you care about and what you offer -- online and in person -- the more your network can support, refer and endorse you.
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