PM POWER Moves: Breaking INTO Project Management – 020: Fast FIVE

Welcome back to the PM POWER Moves newsletter! If you missed any of the other iterations, check my profile to read!

We made it to 20 newsletter editions!

I've been actively engaged on LinkedIn since April of 2022. In that time, I've developed a niche of aspiring project managers looking to translate their existing experience (like I did) to gain new opportunities in the project management field. My desire for my content (and this newsletter) is to be able to help YOU do that!

I will be publishing this newsletter every other Sunday and covering a wide variety of content to leverage in your own experience and career to help provide you opportunity!

This week's topic: Fast FIVE

If you’ve followed my content on LinkedIn for any amount of time, you know that I post about networking frequently.

IMO, it’s the MOST impactful aspect of job seeking and career pivoting (not to mention just career development in general)

Consider: estimates show that 40-80% of jobs today are filled via referral.

Which means, you need to know someone at your desired company to get an "in" for an interview.

The trouble is you don’t know the best ways to find them.

That’s what this week’s newsletter is for.?

Five fast ways to find project managers (and PM content creators) that can have an impact on your network and drive you towards your first (next) PM opportunity!

Let’s get to it!

Method 1: Engage with content creators in your desired niche.

This method is the lowest hanging fruit and one that’s reasonably obvious.?You’ll connect with and follow content creators with larger followings in your desired career.

• Engage with their audience
• Add insightful comments
• Connect with others who are connecting/engaging with them

Your reach will be greater and your network can grow.

Method 2: Engage with employees in your role at your desired company

I talk about this often, here’s a great post to reference.

In a nut shell, you’re going to search for PMs at current companies you’d like to work at (ideally that have worked in a similar industry/career field as you in the past).

• Check their LI profile to see if they’re active.?If they are, comment and engage (like above in Method 1) and start to develop that personal relationship.
• Take it to the DMs to ask specific questions and gain additional knowledge, upskilling, and opportunities!

Method 3: Engage with the company

Most businesses have company pages on LinkedIn.?Follow your desired companies and add insightful comments to their posts.

Their posts and pages are also a gold mine for information – new product roll-outs, open positions, trainings, reports, webinars, etc.

Following company pages also allows you to find and connect with people at those companies (Method 2)

Method 4: Join LinkedIn Groups and Events

LinkedIn has millions of active groups.?Search for one that has your desired career in mind and join.

• Connect with members of that group and develop relationships.
• Gain a mentor.

Events are another great option. These can be searched or found organically.

• Join an event that has a topic from your desired field.
• Once you’ve clicked Attend, you can look at the Networking list to see others who intend to join and locate those in your niche/desired career field.

The great part about groups and events is that you know the people in them are active.

Method 5: Engage/Comment/Post

The easiest way to build a network is to be visible.

If you’re not ready to post, continue to comment and engage on other content creator’s posts

Once you’re ready, posting opens you up to a larger audience.

• Take a learning from a connection and make it your own (tag them in it for engagement).
• Highlight a company’s product and how you’ve used it (tag them in it for awareness).
• Share your career pivot journey.
• Share insights, barriers, wins, mistakes to avoid, education, opportunities – the sky is the limit.

Job seeking is hard, add in a career pivot and you’ve got a massive chasm in front of you.

Make it easier by developing a network that can help you:

• Get educated on the nuances of the new career and how to gain those skills.
• Add/translate relevant experience.
• Gain mentoring and shadowing opportunities.
• Make you aware of jobs and sharing your qualifications with others.

Last tip for networking for project management pivoters:

• Join Project Management Institute and your local PMI chapter.

It gets you exposure to local project managers in your community to help you with all of the above.

Most have mentoring programs already established.

And the benefit of local connection = local opportunities

Which means less competition, shorter commutes, and (ideally) better support.

What are you waiting for?

Get moving!

Thank you for reading! As always, I hope these newsletters resonate!

I'd love to hear your feedback as well as any suggestions for future topics that you'd like me to cover.

Please let me know in the comments below or DM me!