You're navigating a career transition. How can you utilize networking to speed up your success?

Taking a moment to reflect and gain clarity of your skills, values, interests and career ideas will support you to plan effectively for the transition.

The key to networking when making a career transition is to be clear first, before you do your networking, on what it is you want. I see people often network to get people's ideas of what to do in making a shift. What works for someone else isn't necessarily going to work for you. You often end up with a lot of opinions, yet no clear direction. Ask yourself what it is you need to feel successful, which will also energize you. What is your unique brilliance? What do you want long term? What is your vision for your future? Once you've gotten super clear on these answers, networking can be helpful in terms of researching what is in alignment with those answers.

To support the transition it is vital to create your online presence particularly on LinkedIn and to make meaningful connections new and old colleagues or industry professionals in order to reach put and research the market. Face to face networking is also very effective, it is quite easy to arrange a coffee meet with someone resulting in the individual opening up a door of opportunities.

1. Events are useful both before starting the transition, and also during the transition. First, to see the world you're diving into - maybe it's not what you want. People already there are the best "testimonials" you need. Second, to get yourself known, understand what to work on, who's who in the area.

Best strategy ever! 1. Help. Showcase your skills. Meet relevant people. Meet potential clients, employers etc. 2. Connect even on a personal level, build friendships. They might be the best medicine for your doubts and exhaustion during the process - they're already in the places you're trying to reach. I've been a volunteer for 20+ years. Pays off immensely in my career. Plus ...sometimes, when I don't feel appreciated at work, I always find meaning and recognition when I volunteer. It helps a lot for the mindset and overall wellbeing.

Start by reaching out to former classmates or professors through LinkedIn or alumni platforms. Personalize your messages and express genuine interest in their current roles. At this point I strongly advice to request a catchup/virtual coffee meeting to reconnect and stablish rapport with these people. Be curious about their professional experiences and their journey to get there, also be open to share your experiences , it's a give and take of learnings so you both win.

Networking creates great opportunities in people's lives. While providing opportunities for personal development, self-confidence and well-being, it also provides opportunities for maintaining professional identity, new job opportunities, following trends, focusing on their own development areas, creating new opportunities with interests or different sharing areas. Participating in sectoral groups, forums, organisations or trainings can be the first step, while personal identity and branding on social media and digital platforms are indispensable.

Some face to face interactions may not seem great, yet both parties may like each other more than it seems. Some are introverts, some are tired....So, follow up because that person might appreciate a lot that you like them even when they're not at their best, during some random conference or party.