Tips for Starting a New Job

Unpopular opinion: Many early-career professionals misunderstand what networking truly means. As a mentor, I love connecting with curious minds - whether it's a coffee chat, career advice, or a usual "pick your brain" conversation. I genuinely enjoy sharing my journey and supporting others as they make their way in the world. But here's the thing: networking isn't just about job leads or referrals. If you're only reaching out when you need a favor, you're not building a network- you’re using a shortcut. Real networking is a two-way street. It’s about meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas, and building lasting relationships. It’s about seeing the person on the other end not as a recruiter, reference, or CV checker - but as a fellow human being with their own time, challenges, and story. So before you hit send on that message, pause for a second. Lead with curiosity, not convenience. You might be surprised how far genuine connection can take you. I've made some amazing personal friends through professional networking and hope to make some more in the future ✨ #networking #communications #mentorship

Most professionals wait until they need a job to start networking. But by then, it feels forced, rushed, and honestly… a little desperate. Here’s the truth: Networking is not about asking for favors. It’s about building genuine relationships before you need them. If you’re trying to shift roles, grow into leadership, or feel stuck where you are, start here: 1. Connect with intention. Reach out to people in roles, industries, or companies that interest you. Not to ask for a job, but to understand how they got there. 2. Make it easy for them to respond. Send a short, clear message. Let them know why you admire their path and ask for 10–15 minutes to learn from their experience. 3. Lead with curiosity, not need. The best conversations happen when you’re genuinely interested—not just looking for an opening. 4. Stay in touch. A thank-you note, an article they might like, a quick update on your progress—relationships grow through consistency, not one-offs. 5. Give before you ask. Share insights, offer help, or simply support their work. Thoughtful connection builds long-term trust. Networking isn’t about being extroverted or strategic all the time. It’s about being present. Showing up. And remembering that people open doors for those they remember for the right reasons. If you’re waiting for the perfect time to start, this is it.

“Trust is built when people speak well of you in rooms you’re not in.” I am inundated at the moment with messages offering to find me new clients. A new service, a piece of tech and all usually involving AI. These strangers are after my money! But I know where my next deal will come from, and I don't need to pay a "carpetbagger" to help. For as long as I can remember, my new business has always come from my network, either directly or through an introduction. "𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩" But of course, for this approach to work, you must build and maintain a network. You must create trust and clearly express your ask. You must be visible and approachable. You must be trusted. To help you and those in your network, I have written this article, breaking down seven practical steps to optimise your networking, built from years of experience growing global communities through Scottish Business Network and working across international markets. In the article, I focus on what actually drives results: clear intent, relevant connections, adding value, active listening, consistent follow-up, making introductions, and building long-term relationships. If you are serious about improving your networking strategy, personal brand, and business development, this is worth a read because small shifts in how you approach networking can have a disproportionate impact on outcomes. This advice is relevant for the entrepreneur building their business, the undergraduate starting their career and those who have suddenly found themselves losing their job. Please share, and hopefully, between us, we can help someone in need. What will you do differently this week to strengthen your professional network and build relationships that actually create opportunities?

The conversation you almost didn’t have is the one that could change everything Most people underestimate small talk. But in reality, it’s where opportunity starts. Careers, partnerships, friendships, deals They rarely begin in a boardroom They begin in a simple conversation If you know how to handle it well, small talk becomes one of the highest ROI skills you can develop Here is a simple, repeatable 3 step framework Step 1: Master small talk (without it feeling small) Use this structure to guide natural conversation: F.O.R.D. Family → traditions, background, what matters to them Occupation → why they chose their path, not just what they do Recreation → how they spend time outside of work Dreams → if they could do anything, what would it be This is not a script It is a way to stay curious and intentional Layer it with fundamentals that most people forget: • Active listening • Strong eye contact • Thoughtful follow up questions Avoid the common mistakes: • Interrupting • Making it all about you, keep it balanced • Asking overly personal questions too early • Being critical or dismissive • Non responsiveness or checking your phone And when it is time to leave: Exit with intention Thank them, acknowledge the conversation, and close with presence That alone sets you apart Step 2: Exchange contact information the right way This is where most people drop the ball Do not say “we should connect sometime” Be direct and natural: “Let’s stay in touch, I’d enjoy continuing this conversation” Then make it easy: • Connect on LinkedIn immediately • Send a quick message referencing something specific you discussed Specificity is what makes you memorable Step 3: Follow up like a professional This is where relationships are actually built Within 24 to 48 hours: • Send a short message • Reference something meaningful from your conversation • Add value if possible, article, introduction, idea Example: “I enjoyed our conversation about expanding into wellness spaces. I came across something you might find interesting, happy to share.” No pressure No hard ask Just relevance and consistency Most people think networking is about volume It is not It is about depth, presence, and follow through Small talk is not small It is the front door to everything that comes next Curious question: What is one conversation you had recently that could turn into something more if you followed up?

Lawyers tell me they're networking. Then I ask how many people they've actually met with. "Twenty or thirty emails," they say. "Maybe one or two meetings." That's not networking. That's giving up. Here's the system I give every mentee I work with. It takes about 3.5 hours a week and it works: Goal 1: Zoom with two to three new professional contacts every week. Keep it to 15–20 minutes max. Video only — not phone. Goal 2: At the end of every meeting, ask for one or two referrals. Just say: "Is there anyone else in your network you think I should connect with?" Almost everyone says yes. Now your next email has a warm introduction built in. Goal 3: Grab coffee, lunch, or a drink with one professional contact per week in person. No colleagues — someone outside your current orbit. Make it a standing habit like exercise. Goal 4: Do something genuinely helpful for two contacts every week. Refer someone to a job opening. Share a conference they'd enjoy. Connect two people who should know each other. No strings attached. Goal 5: Never stop doing Goals 1–4. Not after you land a job. Not after you make partner. Not ever. Who you know and how you treat people now will shape your career in ten years. The law students sitting across from you in your networking Zooms today could be the GC or the managing partner who hires you later. Build the snowball now. Let it roll.

Your first 90 days on the job can set your reputation. But most people spend it listening to training. Your first 90 days gives you a unique opportunity. You can form your own reputation. You don’t have much on your plate yet and there are few expectations of you this early. What you do have is a wide open field to set your reputation. A reputation that will be part of your tenure at this company and with these colleagues. But typically, most new people stay in the background focusing on training and getting the lay of the land. They don't take advantage of building relationships early on. When those first 90 days are up, expectations to perform kick in, and people begin to feel the pressure. And because they didn’t take advantage of the time to connect with colleagues, they don’t have useful relationships to turn to. You can avoid this by starting your new job with the same approach you used in your job search. Be deliberate about learning. Be deliberate about building relationships. Build rapport and trust with your boss and your team. But go beyond just this core team. Make connections with others in departments you will likely work with. Ask your boss for warm intros to her boss and others at the executive level. Keep asking, “who else should I meet?” Most people are especially welcoming to new team members and are usually accommodating  to a request to meet. Spend 20 minutes with these new colleagues. Ask about their work, their career progression, their challenges, their best ways of working. End each meeting with, “If you were in my shoes, what advice would be most helpful?” While this is getting your name out there on the surface, it’s also establishing deeper goodwill built from the start. So when it's go-time and you’re expected to lead a project, host a meeting, or produce some deliverables, you’ll have a friendly audience and likely several friends you can phone for support and advice. When I started my most recent job, I held over 80 1-to-1s in the first year. DM me if you have questions about this powerful #networking strategy. What do you do to build relationships within your organization? Share below. ⤵️

The best time to build your professional network was 5 years ago. The second best time is right now. But here's what most professionals do: They wait until they're desperate to start building relationships. 🔴 The LinkedIn message that starts with "Hey, I was just laid off..."  🔴 The coffee invitation that comes 3 months after radio silence. 🔴 The sudden interest in "catching up" when your company announces layoffs. People see right through it. And they should. Real professional relationships aren't built during emergencies. They're built during ordinary Tuesdays when you have nothing to ask for. Here's how to build a support network that actually supports you: ▶︎ Send the "no agenda" message: Reach out to 2 people each week with zero ask. Share an article they'd find interesting. Congratulate them on a recent win. Ask how their project turned out. No pitch, no favor, no meeting request. ▶︎ Become a connector, not a collector: When you meet someone interesting, think about who in your network they should know. Make 1 introduction per month. The most valuable people in any network are the ones who create value for others. ▶︎ Show up during their wins: Everyone reaches out during crises. Almost nobody reaches out during celebrations. Comment meaningfully on promotions. Send a note when they land a big client. Celebrate their success stories. ▶︎ Create recurring touchpoints: Set calendar reminders to check in quarterly with your most important professional relationships. Not for coffee, not for meetings - just genuine "how are things going?" conversations. ▶︎ Be useful in small ways: Forward relevant job postings to people who might be interested (even when they're not job searching). Share industry insights that affect their work. Remember details about their projects and follow up months later. The professionals who bounce back fastest from setbacks aren't the most talented. They're the ones who spent years investing in relationships before they needed them. Your network isn't what you can get from people. It's what you've already given. How do you maintain professional relationships when you don't need anything? What's worked best for you? ⸻ ➕ Follow Nathan Pearce for more insights. ♻️ Repost to support others, and make Nathan's day!!

Don’t Plant Tomatoes in a Snowstorm: Build Your Network Early For those in career transition, the one common theme I often hear is, “I wish I had been more intentional about networking.” The bottom line is that people tend to hire those they know and trust, or who have been referred to them by someone they know and trust. You don’t want to build your network when you need it. You want to activate it. No one wants to be the person who only shows up when they need something. Networking isn’t schmoozing. It’s staying human in a world that forgets to look up from the keyboard. So how do you stay connected without feeling like you’re hosting a telethon? Natural ways to nurture your network: • Send a “Saw this and thought of you” article — translation: I remember you exist and you’re smart. • Celebrate wins — “Congrats! I always knew you’d be dangerous with a whiteboard and a strategy deck.” • Check in just because — not because you need a job, a favor, or a kidney. • Offer help before you ask for it — like a good casserole, it always comes back around. • Comment thoughtfully on their posts — emojis are great, but sentences say, “I still have a pulse.” • Invite someone to coffee or Zoom just to catch up — bonus points if no agenda is mentioned. Strong careers aren’t built on resumes alone. They’re built on relationships, reputation, and remembering people beyond the ‘Send’ button. Future-you will thank present-you for planting seeds long before you needed shade.

Career advice I wish I knew earlier... When I started my career, I thought my skills, qualifications, and work ethic alone would lead me to success. While those are crucial, I soon learned that relationships often open doors that hard work alone cannot. Here's how to harness the power of your network effectively: 1️⃣ Nurture relationships intentionally: Building a strong network isn’t about handing out business cards - it’s about fostering genuine, authentic relationships. Invest time in getting to know people, understanding their goals, and finding ways to support them. 2️⃣ Lead with generosity: The best networks are built on trust and mutual value. Offer your expertise, make introductions, or simply show up for others. Small acts of generosity create goodwill that often comes back to you in unexpected ways. 3️⃣ Don’t underestimate the power of weak ties: Research shows that your strongest opportunities often come from people you don’t interact with daily. Keep in touch with acquaintances, former colleagues, or people you meet at events - you never know who might open the door to your next opportunity. 4️⃣ Ask for help without hesitation: Early in my career, I hesitated to ask for advice or support, fearing it might seem like a sign of weakness. In reality, people love to help, especially when approached respectfully and with genuine curiosity. 5️⃣ Treat everyone with respect and kindness: Whether it’s the receptionist or the CEO, you never know who might become a mentor, advocate, or collaborator in the future. Relationships are built on how you make people feel. 6️⃣ Stay consistent: Networking is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep showing up - whether that’s by attending events, reaching out for coffee chats, or simply checking in with your contacts. Consistency keeps you top-of-mind. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how a strong network can propel careers forward in ways I never imagined. It’s not just about leveraging relationships for opportunities - it’s about creating a community of support, growth, and inspiration. ✨ Tag someone in your network below who has had a meaningful impact on your career journey. #careeradvice #networking #professionaldevelopment #femalefounder #careernetwork #weakties

I used to think networking was all about sending generic LinkedIn connection requests. But I was wrong ⬇️ Genuine relationship building completely changed my perspective. 🤯 Here's what I've learned as a college student trying to break into my dream industry: → 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆: It's not about how many people you know, but how well you know them. Focus on building meaningful connections with a few key individuals rather than trying to network with everyone. → 𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂: Don't try to be someone you're not. People can sense inauthenticity from a mile away. Share your genuine interests and passions––that's how you'll connect with like minded people. → 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: Always think about how you can provide value to others. Maybe it's sharing an interesting article, offering your skills, or making an introduction. When you give first, people are more likely to want to help you in return. → 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵: Networking doesn't end after the first meeting. Set reminders to check in with your connections regularly. Share updates on your progress and congratulate them on their achievements. → 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆: LinkedIn isn't just for connection requests. Engage with people's posts, share your own insights, and join relevant groups. It's an easy way to stay on people's radar. → 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱: Don't be afraid to reach out to professionals in your desired field for a quick chat. Most people are happy to share their experiences and advice with students. ⭐ 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬'𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗣: Create a networking tracker spreadsheet to keep notes on your connections, when you last spoke, and potential follow up topics. This has been a game changer for me in managing my professional relationships! Remember, networking is about building genuine relationships, not just adding names to your contact list. Don't get me wrong...it definitely takes time and effort, but the connections you make can open doors you never even knew existed! #networking #studentlife #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment #linkedintips #jobhunting