Career Transitions and the Art of Networking

In this episode, we unpack one of the most talked-about topics in career transitions: networking—and how to do it authentically.

Whether you're a seasoned executive or exploring a new path, building meaningful connections can be a game-changer. But how do we move beyond transactional handshakes and LinkedIn connections to relationships that truly support and shape our careers?

Vanessa T and Vanessa I share personal stories, practical tips, and candid reflections on:

• Why networking is more than just a numbers game
• How to reach out in small but meaningful ways
• What a strong, diverse network looks and feels like
• Common pitfalls to avoid (hint: don't wait till you need something!)
• Why introverts often make the best networkers

💡 One of our favourite takeaways? Networking is about being intentional and valuing diversity—in backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences.

Whether you're rekindling old connections or starting new ones, this episode will leave you inspired to build your network with purpose and heart.

Connect with us on LinkedIn:

· Vanessa Iloste (Host)

· Vanessa Teo (Host)

· Aaron Wu (Producer)

Transcript

Vanessa T: [00:00:00] Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Career Transitions Podcast. I'm Vanessa Teo. 

Vanessa I: And I'm Vanessa Iloste. Today we are tackling something that comes up in almost every career conversation. It's the topic of networking, and it's also a question that comes up very often from our listeners. 

Vanessa T: Yeah, networking has such a reputation.

Some people love it. Others dread it. But the truth is that it's such a huge part of how careers evolve and we really wanted to use today's episode to unpack how to do it it in a way that actually feels authentic. 

Vanessa I: Exactly. This isn't about working the room or handing out 50 business cards at an event.

We are talking about building real relationship. Connections that can challenge you, support you, and even change your path. 

Vanessa T: So let's just start off first with the why. Vanessa? Why does [00:01:00] networking matter so much? 

Vanessa I: For me, networking is about getting outta my bubble. When I stay in the same circle, my thinking becomes narrow.

Talking to people with completely different views can be eyeopening. And even if it's uncomfortable, this is where I feel my growth happens.

Vanessa T: I love that. I also think it's a form of respect. When I take time to learn about someone else's story or industry, I'm actually showing that I value what they bring.

Vanessa I: And you do it. You do this very well, Vanessa. Let's be honest. Our network is our net worth, and there is this saying that I've heard a couple of times. What you know gets you in the door, who you know moves you forward, but who knows you, keeps you going. I found this very interesting that visibility matters. 

Vanessa T: Totally. The day you need help, whether it's a reference or whether it's a job lead or an advice about career or life, you'll really know who's in your corner, and that's your true network. 

Vanessa I: [00:02:00] So Vanessa, what does a healthy, strong network actually looks like? 

Vanessa T: That's a good question. I have to say it is not the number of LinkedIn connections you have or the number of Instagram followers you have, or Facebook friends that you might have for sure.

I always ask myself if I needed to call five people today for advice. Or encouragement or real feedback, who would those people be?

Vanessa I: Hmm. I'm quite curious about this list. 

Vanessa T: I will call you for sure. 

Vanessa I: That's very good to know. And of these people from diverse backgrounds, different roles, industry generation, I really think the mix matters.

I've learned so much from my younger colleagues and peers, work outside of my industry and my trade. 

Vanessa T: And one practical tips I always give to myself is every few months I scan through my calendar and I ask, who have I not caught up with in a while? And then I'll send them a short text message just to check in to say, Hey, how are you doing? We haven't chatted in a while. How are [00:03:00] you? So really nothing fancy.

And oftentimes what I hear back from the other person is, Hey, I haven't heard from you too. Let's have coffee. Sometimes it's also just about, you know, taking a small action, like sending an article to someone or sending a photo to someone and saying, Hey, I read this, or, Hey, I saw this and I thought of you.

I think it's really just putting the person that you're thinking of at the center of how you want to go about making that connection and that small text message can really help to solidify a relationship. 

Vanessa I: It's true and it's very sincere and very genuine. It's a great habit you have Vanessa.

There is another. When someone pops into my head or when I've dreamt of someone during the night, I always drop them a message and my intrusion is often spot on. 

Vanessa T: I would love to know who you dream of. I think I must be one of those 'cause I received some of your early morning messages. So build your reputation as someone who gives, and not just someone who takes, and that's really important in building networks.

If [00:04:00] someone asks you for a referral or a recommendation, respond thoughtfully because your credibility grows when you're seen as someone who is a connector. And sometimes if you get that message and you really don't have another person to connect or you don't have a referral or a recommendation, actually tell your network.

I am not sure who can do this for you, but I will reach out to my network and help you find someone who can, and that's how you build credibility within your network. 

Vanessa I: It's very true. I mean, it's, uh, very often that I receive this kind of request and I think that people appreciate when you make the effort to actually identify some people that could help them in their quest, in their work, in their projects.

So I really think that you are on the right path. Vanessa, let's now talk about the how. People say I should network more, but where do I start? Do you have any answer for them? 

Vanessa T: Yeah, Vanessa, and I've seen you do this quite a bit, start small. You don't have to [00:05:00] go to a massive conference right away. But really starting with those small interactions and you do this quite well.

Dropping someone a note on LinkedIn, even if it's someone you may not know, but you really have been following them. You respect what they've been writing on LinkedIn or you respect the content that they've been creating. Drop them a note. Say hi and say, I really enjoy reading that article that you wrote.

Say yes to a coffee chat. If someone from your past life ask you out for coffee, say yes, or even joining a professional networking or WhatsApp group. Sometimes you get to meet new people in quite unexpected ways. 

Vanessa I: When I go to networking events, I give myself a little goal. I want to talk, for instance, at least to two new people that I don't know.

I really make an effort to get out of the people that I already know or that have already understood, and I try to build a new network, a new connection. It's very easy to stick with familiar face, and I think that we need to get out of our [00:06:00] comfort zone and we need to stretch ourselves so that we can expand our network.

Vanessa T: I like how you position these networking events in quite a intentional way. I have to say, sometimes when I go to those networking events, I am guilty of looking for the familiar face in the room, and then when I find them, I chat with them the whole night. But I think your point about stretching ourselves and building those connections during those networking events is so important.

And I know many, including myself, who sometimes go to these events and can find it quite intimidating to be in a room filled with, I don't know, 20, 30 people who are unfamiliar to me. What you say is really true, going in with a sense of curiosity, and if it helps, then going in with some questions that you might have ready.

So for example, some general questions like, Hey, tell me about something interesting that's going on in your industry right now. Or, Hey, what's the biggest challenge that your team is working on? Can you share a little bit more about that with me? Or even, Hey, how did you get into this line of [00:07:00] work? These questions are questions that prompt greater level of conversation.

It prompts more talking from the other person, but it also helps to demonstrate your level of curiosity to the other person that you're speaking with. And one question leads to the other, and before you know it, you're building a conversation with this person. 

Vanessa I: I like the fact that your questions are very wide and very broad.

I've seen many people doing the icebreakers type of question, which can be sometimes very difficult to follow, but yours are very useful because I think that people, most of them, they want to talk about what they are working on. They want to talk about their industry. They are really interested in their team.

They want to talk also about their employer. Your list, Vanessa, is very useful and very powerful. I wanted to share another one, which is around the names. This is something that I really believe is very important, is to remember the names of the people you meet. So I try to say them a couple of times when [00:08:00] I'm introduced to them, and I try to make sure that I will say the name or so at the end when I finish the conversation.

It's a small touch, but it makes people feel valued and seen in the crowd. 

Vanessa T: Yes, so true, so true. The person that remembers my name at the end of the night certainly will leave an impression in me. I also think that it's so important to be really a good listener when you're in these networking events. The amount of new information that will come through in these conversations can be really rich.

So really listen in to the conversation. Don't be thinking about, oh my gosh, what's gonna be my next question? Or How do I pitch myself? Or how am I gonna keep this conversation going? Instead, live in that moment. Listen to what people are saying. Listen to what the other person is sharing about, and then find those common points, even that smallest detail where you're able to then build on the content.

Build on the conversation, and I've had people remember some of the smallest details that I shared months ago, and [00:09:00] it meant so much to me that they remembered because they listened. 

Vanessa I: Yeah. And a couple of times you came back from networking events and you shared with me the day after about the content of the conversation.

It's quite interesting that you stay with some of the questions or some of the topics that you discuss with the people you meet and you reflect overnight, and the next morning you want to share with me, which I like. So I think that your quality of listening is very high and beyond the listening, I think you really reflecting as well on what it means and how it impacts you or how it applies to you.

So. You are really, really fully engaged in this conversation, and that's the reason why people remember what you have shared with them. I also want to talk about the follow up. I think that when someone is worried about something or someone is sharing with you about an important event in their life, it's good to follow up on that and to make sure that they are okay.

Last month I met a new [00:10:00] colleague and she was very excited to become a grandma. So two days ago, I just sent her a message just to see whether the grandson was born and whether he was healthy and whether she was happy, and I think that it helped us to create a stronger bond, something that was beyond actually our professional connection.

Vanessa T: Yeah, networking can be quite intimidating, but I think that if you follow some of these simple tips, it can make it a little bit less intimidating. Well, let's get real though about what not to do in networking. Vanessa, what's one mistake that you often see in networking? 

Vanessa I: The one that gets me is really the transactional side of things.

I mean, when people are transactional, I think that I can sense it very fast. And it annoys me. It feels like they want to take something or they want to get something out of you. This is not something that I enjoy very much. I feel that I'm being used and abused. I really encourage [00:11:00] everyone to think about what the other person feels when they receive your request to avoid this one.

Vanessa T: Yeah, I think also one of the fastest ways to lose trust is to only reach out when you need help. You've got to be able to build before you need, and that means that building relationships over time, even when you don't need that connection, it's all right to send that person a text and to invite that person for coffee, not to ask for anything, but really just to have a chat.

Find out how life is going, find out how that person's career is progressing. Find out how that person is doing, and it is through these small interactions that you build the relationship that someone later on will come and help you when you do need that help. 

Vanessa I: That's so true. This building step by step is so important and making sure that you have enough credit in the bank.

I remember this concept of having credit in the bank. That is quite useful in that case. I also made the mistake of assuming the network had [00:12:00] to be about senior people or people who are already very experienced. In the last couple of years, I've realized that some of the best insights are coming from my peers.

Sometimes some of the mentees that I work with. It's very refreshing when you have a mentee sharing with you about their experience of the workplace. It's very enlightening. I mean, it gives you their insight, it gives you their lens around what you do on the other side. Mm-hmm. As an HR person. So I think that it's very good to have these people in your network.

Vanessa T: Yeah, and not forgetting that sometimes it's your peers or even someone more junior than you in career who can ultimately help you when you really do need help. Sometimes it's those connections that can lead to other things. I also think that one of those big myths out there is that networking is for extroverts.

So if I'm an introvert, no, no, no. Networking is not for me. But I don't think that that's true. In fact. Introverts actually make such amazing networkers because they [00:13:00] tend to go deeper into conversations, and they tend to also build longer term bonds. So if you're an introvert, understand the superpower that you bring to this.

You have the ability to listen more deeply and to also take those conversations more deeply. So never underestimate your worth as an introvert. I think it comes more naturally for extroverts, but we should never underestimate what introverts bring to the table as well. 

Vanessa I: So true. It's about being intentional.

I think that when you have a very quiet and quality conversation, you really feel listened to, you really feel understood, and this conversation, they will stay with you after the networking sometimes more strongly than something that was superficial and very shallow. 

Vanessa T: Vanessa, there's one thing. There's also one piece of advice that I had from a good mentor of mine who once told me that sometimes when you make an effort to send, he called it a networking nudge.

Once a week or maybe once every two weeks, whatever you [00:14:00] feel comfortable with, but sending that networking nudge to someone you admire or you haven't spoken for a while can be very helpful. It's a very tiny habit, but it pays off in big ways. 

Vanessa I: That's a great piece of advice. I think I will start tomorrow actually and see if I can send a message to someone I admire.

I've not spoken for a while and I let you know about the impact of it. 

Vanessa T: Yeah, ask that person out for coffee. 

Vanessa I: Yes. I mean, if they are in Europe, it's going to be difficult, so I need to find the person in Asia, but I have a lot of friends in Asia. It's okay. I will find that. If we had to sum up a strong network in one word, Vanessa, what would it be?

Vanessa T: I think for me it's, it's about being intentional. How about you? 

Vanessa I: I think I would add the word diverse. I want, you know, the diversity of thinking. I want the diversity of opinion. I want to be challenged.

Vanessa T: Yeah, I really think that these two things are so important. When you intentionally build a diverse network across age, across gender, background, experience, you get richer conversations, you spot those blind [00:15:00] spots, and you grow faster as a professional and as an individual.

Vanessa I: You also build empathy because you are not just surrounding yourself with people who agree with you or think the same way.

Vanessa T: And I think that's where real change happens, whether it is career growth, learning, or innovation, it all starts with who you're in conversation with. I hope that today's topic about building networks has been helpful for all of you today.

Hope that it answers many of the questions that you had about building networks.

Vanessa I: Thanks for tuning in. If you have been meaning to reconnect with someone, take this as a sign. Send that message and book that coffee.

Vanessa T: And hey, remember, networking isn't just about collecting business cards or collecting those LinkedIn connections.

It's about building some real human connections. And as an invitation, if you like to make a connection with either one of us, drop us both a LinkedIn message.

Vanessa I: We hope this episode gives you a few ideas to build and nurture your home community.

Vanessa T: Thanks everyone for listening.

Vanessa I: [00:16:00] Thank you so much.