Strategic Networking for Your Next Step
How to connect with the women who already have the job you want
Last week, I talked about knowing when it’s time to pivot and how to prepare for a career change. This week, we’re focusing on something just as important: strategic networking.
Specifically, networking with the women who already have the job, business, or career you want.
Whether that’s a woman in a senior leadership role you’re working towards, someone who left corporate to launch her own thing, or someone who’s made the transition into a completely new industry, there’s so much you can learn from her story, her path, and her mindset.
But first, you need to get clear on your own direction.
Step 1: Identify the role (or direction) you want
You don’t need to have it all figured out, but you do need enough clarity to make your outreach meaningful.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want to do more of in my work?
- What kind of problems do I want to solve?
- What are my non-negotiables (industry, flexibility, values, income)?
- Who do I admire professionally, and why?
- What kind of job, business, or lifestyle do I not want?
Use these answers to build an idea of your target role or career path. If you can get hyper-specific and identify the exact role title you are after, even better, because you can be very targeted with who you contact.
Step 2: Find the women doing it
Now it’s time to look for people who already have what you're aiming for. You don’t need a direct connection to reach out.
Try this:
- Use LinkedIn to search job titles and companies
- Look at alumni from your university or previous companies
- Check speaker lineups from industry events or panels
- Use the Peer Suite member directory to scour who is working where and what their experience is
- Ask your existing network: “Do you know anyone doing X?”
The goal is to find a few women whose careers or pivots inspire you, and who are one or two steps ahead of you on the path you're exploring.
Step 3: Reach out the right way
You don’t need to ask for a job or mentorship. You just need to make a thoughtful, clear, and respectful ask.
Here’s a simple structure for your message:
Hi [Name],
I came across your profile and really admire the path you've taken, especially your move from [industry/role] into [current position]. I'm exploring a similar transition and would love to learn more about how you approached it. Would you be open to a quick call or coffee sometime soon? I’d be grateful for 15 minutes of your time, but fully understand if your schedule doesn’t allow it right now.
Warmly,
[Your name]
If possible, try to offer something in return.
Reaching out with a thoughtful ask will often go a long way, but remember that many women in senior or in-demand roles receive messages like this regularly. If you can, offer a small exchange of value to make your message stand out and show that you respect their time.
This could look like:
- Sharing insights from your own industry or role that might be useful to them
- Offering to introduce them to someone in your network
- Inviting them to a relevant event or panel
- Offering to support something they’re working on (e.g. a launch, campaign, initiative)
- Simply acknowledging their work publicly, for example, by resharing a LinkedIn post or tagging them in a thoughtful way
Showing generosity and professionalism can make a big difference, and networking should always feel like a two-way relationship.
A few reminders:
- Keep your message short and specific
- Let them know what you’re hoping to learn and why you are reaching out to them
- Make it personal, using an AI-generated message without any personalisation won't yield the best results
- Don’t be offended if they say no or ignore you, they’re very likely busy and may come back to you at a later date
- If someone asks you to book time as a client, remember they are likely receiving similar requests regularly and may not have the capacity to provide you with free advice
- If they say yes, yay, now make sure to prepare in advance to make the time meaningful for you both
If you’re currently in a pivot or thinking about one, I’d love to hear what you’re exploring. And as mentioned before, I’m working on something inside Peer Suite to support women through career change with clarity and confidence. If you have thoughts on what would be most helpful to you, hit reply and let me know.
