Building a Network from Scratch, Tips from a Refugee

Welcome to the latest edition of Power in Connection, a newsletter featuring stories from professionals who have experienced the transformative power that connections can have on careers. Learn how to build new relationships to catalyze your career by hearing from entrepreneurs, CEOs, newly minted professionals — and everyone in between.

Yesterday was a busy day for Yaser Naseri .

After working 9-to-5 at his full-time role as a marketer, the Sydney resident promptly closed his laptop and headed off to consult on an upcoming short play. Over the next few hours, he watched and offered feedback to the actors, who were playing traveling refugees –? an experience Yaser knew all too well.

Born and raised in Iran, Yaser fled his homeland in 2011. After a harrowing journey that included three years in Indonesia, he finally settled as a refugee in Australia in 2014. Although he didn’t know English well upon his arrival, Yaser was eager to succeed, after several years of hard work, enrolled in the University of Sydney to earn his degree in business.

Reach out to local organizations to build connections

At some point during his studies, Yaser began to search the internet for internship opportunities that would fit his education background and support him as a refugee. What he lacked in local personal connections, he made up for in curiosity and persistence, eventually stumbling on an opportunity at CareerSeekers , an Australian nonprofit that supports refugees and asylum seekers through professional development training and 12-week paid internships.

For Yaser, this connection was a catalyst that helped his personal and professional network in Australia grow for years to come.

“CareerSeekers has not only helped us [program participants] to prepare [for the hiring process]…but also put us in a real situation to learn how to connect with people [and] how to do networking.”

Along with setting Yaser up with internships, including three at Qantas, CareerSeekers also provided Yaser with advice about Australia’s professional norms and customs – all of which were new to him as a refugee.

“If you do come from a different system, a different world view, for example, for me from the Middle East and now in Australia, the game is totally different. You have to learn those new rules,” he notes. “[Working with CareerSeekers really gave] me a lot of confidence as a newcomer in the country.”

Own and share your story to drive impact and opportunity

With the support of CareerSeekers and his growing professional network by his side, Yaser graduated from the University of Sydney in 2022, and landed a marketing job a few months later where he still works today. Throughout his entire professional journey, both as a student and a full-time worker, Yaser has also devoted much of his free time to sharing his personal story and expertise as a refugee – all in the hopes of making the world more inclusive of people like him.?

“It gives me a lot of opportunity to connect with a wider range of people from different aspects of life,” he says.

“I enjoy it. It’s become a healing part of my journey, as well. So it's not traumatic anymore.”

Through his advocacy work, Yaser has spoken to Fortune 500 companies, schools, community groups, and even governments. Most recently, he was named an Ambassador for the Refugee Council of Australia, an opportunity he learned about through CareerSeekers.

Employers, meet jobseekers where they are

When it comes to advice he has for organizations hoping to welcome more refugees into their workforce, or to other groups hoping to connect with refugees, Yaser encourages teams to truly meet refugees where they are in their journey by using communication channels and methods that refugees are familiar with already. He also suggests that companies be proactive ,and reach out to NGOs and organizations that support refugees with career pathways.

“Have a diverse channel to take these people in, especially for refugees,” he says.

“Try to meet the person and see what skills they have…make it easier to meet that person, to give them a chance for an interview.”

Yaser also notes that on a more basic level, people can be welcoming to newcomers by taking small everyday actions that build community and commonality.

“[Organizations] should have the right environment for people to be comfortable in sharing their stories… I think that creates a better culture [of] closeness,” Yaser says.

“Start [using] refugee-based services or refugee-backed products, or use refugee businesses.”

Always remember, people are the purpose

Looking back on all he has accomplished, Yaser feels he’s struck a happy balance between advancing his professional career, building his network, and following his passion for refugee-related advocacy.?

The best part in all he does, he says, is getting to spend time with so many new faces.

“It doesn't matter where you are….It's about people. Not the places. Not how much money I have in my pocket. What’s my status in the workplace. It was who I am with and how they care for me and I for them.”

For Yaser, people are the purpose for all he does.

Have you worked alongside a refugee, or welcomed them into your workplace or professional network? Share more in the comments below!

Fill your LinkedIn feed with great insights and ideas to help you grow your career. Yaser recommends following these three thought leaders:?

• Yvonne Kelly , CEO and Co-Founder, Glow Up Careers ?
• Simon Sinek, Author and Founder, Simon Sinek's The Optimism Company
• Tony Robbins, Author, life and business strategist, philanthropist, and entrepreneur

Looking for more tips to help you network and grow your career? Check out these articles and resources next:?

• The Power of the Follow Up: Austin Henline shares why following up with people who support you on your professional journey can have long-term benefits for you, and them.
• 2023 Guide to Kickstarting Your Career: Looking for your first job, or a career pivot to a new opportunity? Read about the top jobs, industries and cities to launch your professional journey, according to recent LinkedIn data.
• Nervous to network in person? Check out these quick tips from Forbes for dipping your toe into connecting with new acquaintances during professional networking events.

Got feedback? Want to request a particular topic or suggest a thought leader we should speak to? Share your thoughts by commenting below.