How to Begin Networking if it Sounds Scary or You Don’t Know Where to Start
Posted on April 05, 2025 by Kristin Snyder, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
Everyone knows they should network, but many people would rather do anything else. Learn how to make it feel more approachable.
People often tell me things like: “everyone says I should network, but” . . . “I hate it”, or “it’s scary to reach out to strangers”, or “I’m not sure how to start”. This is a very common issue, but networking is essential for your job search, and avoiding it will hurt your chances of landing the job you want. So here are some tips for getting started even if you don’t want to!
First, I recommend asking yourself: are there some types of networking that sound more appealing than others? When people have a negative reaction to networking they are often focused on one particular type. But it can take many different forms. Examples of networking include:
– Making sure people you already know are aware of your career goals
– Reaching out to request informational interviews– conversations planned in advance where you will be able to prepare your questions/conversation topics
– Spontaneous conversations that occur anywhere, but possibly at places like events, conferences, and parties
– Purposefully going to places to find specific people who will be there, in order to proactively make a connection, which can include planned conversation topics.
If one of these feels easier than the others, start there! Many people will discover that they have already done at least one of these things and it wasn’t so bad. And if one of them isn’t your thing– say, spontaneous conversations– don’t do it! Focus on what feels doable for you.
Another tip is to do networking systematically. I suggest making a spreadsheet to track people you are interested in, including when you reach out to them, if you hear back, when you meet, and when you send thank you and follow-up emails. You should also have a place to compile your notes from conversations. This will keep you organized and less overwhelmed, and ensure that you’re getting the most out of the work you’re putting in.
Finally, I recommend doing it in bite-sized pieces: a little bit at a time, consistently. This is another way to avoid overwhelm and make it feel easier. For example, 30 minutes once a week of compiling contacts, sending emails, or doing calls can be a great place to start, and you’ll probably end up spending more time naturally as you get more comfortable.
Networking can help with many parts of the job search process, including figuring out what you want to do, as well as finding out about opportunities and getting referrals. Even if it’s uncomfortable at first it’s worth pushing through to increase your chances of reaching your career transition goals.
