309: Build Your Mid-Career Networking Strategy Now

If you’re a mid-career professional feeling stuck in your job, the thought of “networking” might make you cringe. Maybe it feels transactional, forced, or just plain awkward. But when networking is done “right,” it doesn’t feel like networking at all. In fact, it can be fun and energizing.

In this episode of The Mid-Career GPS Podcast, John Neral shows you how to transform networking from an uncomfortable chore into a natural, ongoing part of your career development. You’ll learn how to approach networking as relationship building, so it feels authentic, valuable, and mutually beneficial.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why networking is really about cultivating genuine, long-term professional relationships
• How to create a unique professional value statement that clearly communicates who you help and how you help them
• Why you should leverage your existing network before trying to meet new people
• The art of the informational interview—and how one powerful question can open unexpected doors
• Why “give before you ask” is the mindset shift that changes everything
• How to use LinkedIn effectively without posting constantly (hint: engagement matters more)
• Why only 4% of LinkedIn users post regularly—and how to stand out through thoughtful interaction

Whether you’re job searching, looking for a promotion, or simply investing in your professional future, these strategies will help you network in a way that feels natural—and works.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Get a LinkedIn Profile Audit for just $50: johnneral.com/resources
• Join the Mid-Career GPS Membership Community for ongoing career development support: johnneral.com/membership

Keywords for SEO: mid-career networking tips, how to network without being awkward, authentic networking strategies, mid-career job search tips, LinkedIn networking for professionals, professional relationship building, networking advice for managers, career clarity mid-career, informational interviews, job search networking strategies

Chapters

• 0:00 Reframing Networking as Relationship Building
• 6:05 Creating Your Unique Professional Value Statement
• 9:50 Leveraging Your Existing Network
• 12:57 Give Before You Ask
• 17:00 Building a Networking Strategy That Feels Right
• 20:23 Using LinkedIn Effectively for Networking

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

As mid-career professionals, you are often told and I advocate for this that your network is your net worth and you should constantly focus on growing and building your network. But how? Let's face it, you are busy, you are tired and for some of you, networking feels weird. Networking feels weird. So in this episode, I'll share with you some of my best networking tips to take you to the end of 2025 and set you up for greater success in your career when you learn to simplify your networking and keep it very genuine and authentic. You want one quick tip Don't be a jerk, let's get started. Hello, my friends, this is the Mid-Career GPS Podcast and I'm your host, john Nerrell. I help mid-career professionals like you find a career they love, or love the one they have, using my proven four-step formula.

Speaker 1: 1:12

Networking is a huge component in building a job search strategy, but if you are frustrated with what you are doing and feel like it is not working, I've got something to help you. I've created a brand new free guide along with a 20-minute video training called why your Mid-Career Job Search Isn't Working the four-step framework to build a smarter, faster and more confident career move. And recently, one of the people who got this guide and reviewed it for me. His name is Mark. He posted this and I shared it on my website. He wrote, quote if you've been tirelessly on the job hunt for what feels like an eternity and are starting to feel truly burnt out or discouraged, I truly believe John Narrell's program why your Mid-career job search isn't working. The four-step framework to build a smarter, faster and more confident career move is the game changer you've been waiting for. It's clear he deeply understands the feeling of being stuck and, mark, I thank you for that, because I know through many times in my career that feeling of stuck can get very overwhelming and when you're trying to make a move and you're trying to branch out and improve your career and improve your professional trajectory, feeling stuck is never a good thing. So it's one of the reasons why I created this guide and video training for everybody was to help get you unstuck by giving you some very tangible and actionable things that you could implement right now, especially as we head into the last four months of 2025.

Speaker 1: 2:56

Okay, and so today's episode here is all about building a networking strategy that is very genuine and authentic to you. So, right away, what I want to share with you is that let's reframe this idea about networking. Networking at its core is relationship building, and at the top of the episode I said to you don't be a jerk, or stop being a jerk, right. Here's the thing. A bad networking connection is going to be someone who makes it all about them and keeps it all one-sided. See, networking isn't about how many connections you have on LinkedIn or how many contacts you have in your email list. Networking is about building a professional relationship that is genuine and is cultivated over time. I am very fortunate that I have what I like to consider a very solid LinkedIn network. I have over 10,000 followers on LinkedIn and it's not huge or vast or anything like that. But here's the thing I could take 1% of that list and I could reach out to anybody who is in that 1% of my list and I know they'd respond right away. I know they would be there for me as much as I am there for them, because we built these relationships over time.

Speaker 1: 4:35

See, oftentimes, when you're unemployed or you're looking to make that next move in your career, networking can start to feel very transactional. We need to reframe that. Networking is something that you're going to do over time and not just when you're looking for a job. But networking is about giving. It is about supporting and, yes, there comes a time when you have to ask. Okay, there've been a few things over the summer that I've been working on that I've had to go to my network and ask for something and ask for a potential opportunity. But that is only because we have cultivated this relationship over time that now making an ask feels very genuine and authentic at this point. So many times I have mid-career professionals who reach out and they're like what do I have to do to get someone to offer me a job? And they don't know the person. There's no trust established, there's no likability and, of course, when there's no trust, why would somebody even enter into a potential recommendation or advocating for you to work in their company when they have no idea who you are? So networking is a long game. It is not something that happens very quickly or immediately. You have to take time to build those professional connections over time. So here's another tip I want you to pay particular attention to.

Speaker 1: 6:13

I have talked about this on the podcast before. You need to have what I call a unique professional value statement. It is not a pitch. When we're pitching, we are wanting something, we are asking for something. When I show up from a place of value and service, I am looking to connect, support and, more importantly, help you in some way. Oftentimes what I say is that mid-career professionals think that they've got a pitch like they're on Shark Tank. Shark Tank's a great show. I like it, okay, but if you are pitching to a company, an interviewer or a potential networking connection or a potential networking connection, they're going to have their defenses up. That's why having a unique professional value statement that very clearly talks about who you help and what you help them do gives the other person an opportunity because of the clarity you provided them. It gives them an opportunity to react and determine whether or not they can actually help you.

Speaker 1: 7:36

As an example, at the start of every podcast episode, I share my unique professional value in the introduction, share my unique professional value. In the introduction I say I help mid-career professionals who feel stuck, undervalued and underutilized show up to find a career they love, or love the one they have. My unique professional value is centered on the transformation I am going to help you get as a coach, a public speaker, a workshop facilitator, a host all of those things but a unique professional value statement needs to be clear and clean. When you're networking with somebody and you say to them I'm a project manager, I'm a financial professional, I'm an educator, what you've done is you've given such a broad label that now you've given up command of your narrative. Now it's left for them to decide what they think you actually do, as opposed to telling them.

Speaker 1: 8:42

Oftentimes I never tell people when I introduce myself that I am a coach, because it conjures up a lot of different images about what coaches are, what they do and what their impressions are. I remember early on I said to somebody I said, oh, I'm a coach. And they go oh, are you a life coach? I have nothing against life coaches, life and I thought, wow, I've already lost them because they've already gone somewhere that I didn't want them to go. That's why I created this unique professional value statement and it's what I coach my clients on, both privately and inside my membership community, to build and have. And when you have that, one of the best ways to do it you're going to put it in two places One is on your LinkedIn headline and secondly in your about section. That way then people get to see in two places exactly who you are and what you do.

Speaker 1: 9:48

Now, another tip here is let's acknowledge you already have a network. It doesn't matter how many people you already have a network. It doesn't matter how many people you already have a network. And so, before you start thinking about expanding upon your network and pulling so many more people into it, think of this Leverage your existing network. First, do an audit, go through your list of connections and identify the people whom you trust you are closest to, you know very well, and these could even be colleagues you worked with on a previous job, but maybe you've lost touch a little bit. You are not starting from scratch when you are networking. You already have a network established. Think about your former colleagues, your bosses, your clients, your vendors, your mentors. Oftentimes, what I see is mid-career professionals underestimate the depth and breadth of their network and they often overlook reaching out to their existing contacts. There's a reason why you two are connected. Find a way to leverage that okay.

Speaker 1: 11:06

Now, if you're looking to pull people into your network, you want to maybe connect with people within a certain organization or a certain industry. Do not ask for a job immediately. You want to turn somebody off right away. That's the way to do it. What you want to do is you want to invite them to a conversation and ultimately ask them for some advice or guidance. It's one of the reasons why I love and advocate so strongly for informational interviews, because we did them when we were younger and somehow we forget to do them as we get older.

Speaker 1: 11:49

Create that informational interview and conduct it much like you would any other kind of business meeting have an agenda. Say to that person I'd love to get your perspective about working at this company, what you enjoy about your field. I'd love to get your thoughts on where your career field or your industry is going over the next five years. How much is AI impacting your industry? Rather than saying, hey, I'm currently unemployed. Do you have any openings at your company? Yeah, I don't know you, that's not going to happen. That's nothing more than something you want and it is a pitch and it is a huge turnoff.

Speaker 1: 12:39

Keep in mind, if we show up from a place of value and service and we show up from a place of looking for support, in general, people want to help. People are more willing to offer you advice or guidance that could potentially lead to referrals. So one of my favorite questions I love asking at the end of an informational interview is who else should I be talking to? It lets them tap into their own network. But then I take it another step further and this comes to the next piece. If we are truly building professional relationships, these relationships must be rooted in support and service. In other words, give before you ask. I've really enjoyed our conversation today. Who can I connect you to? Who's a great connection for you? Who's been someone you've been wanting to meet or talk to about something professionally? Maybe there's somebody in my network I can connect you to. One of my values is about connection. I love it when I am able to connect a client or a professional connection to someone in my network and they just take it and run with it.

Speaker 1: 14:00

In this podcasting space I've gotten to know other hosts. I've gotten to know them. In some cases I've been on their show and vice versa, and oftentimes we'll refer guests to each other because they're a really, really great guest. I will share with you. At one point I had somebody reach out to me to be a guest on the show and they were not a great fit. There was some things about them and their story and their background. That really wouldn't make them a great guest for this show. But I knew somebody who it would and I reached out to them and I offered to make an introduction and the potential guest was very flattered my colleague, who is a podcast host. She was thrilled because she didn't have to go find somebody. She knew she was getting a potential recommendation here. The three of them hit it off okay, it was a couple, and then the host the three of them hit it off. It was great, but that's because of the power of networking.

Speaker 1: 15:03

And so, as we start to wrap up this episode, what I want you to remember is this when you think about building your networking strategy, you are building your networking strategy. You are building a networking strategy that is rooted in how you choose to network. The rules that you play by are the ones that feel right for you. The way you conduct a networking conversation, the way you show up for it, the questions you ask, when you ask for certain things or when you don't, that is authentic to you, because that is what feels right. It is about networking with greater intention. So, whether it is a virtual chat, a phone call, a face-to-face meeting, it's a coffee conversation, it's a lunch or dinner conversation. You go to a networking event with a hundred people at it. Whatever it is, my wish for you is that you build a networking strategy with greater intention. Networking is not something you do because you need something. Networking is something you do because you value your career. You value the connections and the relationships that you build, because you are going to give and you are going to get back far more than you've given. That's the power of building a network that you are proud of. It's why we play the long game when we network.

Speaker 1: 16:50

Now I'll leave you with this bonus tip, and that's this Do not just be on LinkedIn, use LinkedIn. So oftentimes people will reach out and they'll ask me how much should I be posting on LinkedIn? And if they're a job seeker, what I often tell them is don't post. And if they're a job seeker, what I often tell them is don't post. You will get far better traction by being somebody who uses LinkedIn to thoughtfully comment on other people's connections, and I've done several episodes here around LinkedIn. And, very simply, you just go to any search engine and just type in the Mid-Career GPS podcast, linkedin, and you'll get a handful of episodes very easily will pop up and when you learn to use LinkedIn in a way LinkedIn in a way that serves you and suits you what happens is is that you're giving value to other people's posts or adding to people's comments and things.

Speaker 1: 17:56

The last report I read said that only 4% of users on LinkedIn actively post on a regular basis. 4% that means 96% of people are out there. They're either on the platform or not, but if they are on the platform, they're doing more reading, reacting, and if you really want to stand out and be a great networking connection on LinkedIn, comment and engage. And when you comment, engage thoughtfully with a question, something that will keep the conversation going. Don't just say, hey, great post, it adds no value. So keep that in mind. Figure out a way to use LinkedIn very intentionally.

Speaker 1: 18:48

Now, if you want some more support with this, if you want some help, there are two things I can tell you about. So one oftentimes people feel like they can't play full out on LinkedIn because they don't like the way their profile is Currently. Right now, I offer a LinkedIn profile audit. What happens is is you fill out a form, I go through that form, I turn on the video, I go through and audit your LinkedIn profile and give you suggestions on how to optimize it. It is something you do yourself. You take my feedback and incorporate it or not. It is a $. Do yourself, you take my feedback and incorporate it or not. It is a $50 audit. So if you want clarity in terms of what you should do and how you should do it, the LinkedIn audit can be a great opportunity for you, and you can find that at johnnerrellcom forward slash resources.

Speaker 1: 19:40

But if you want more help in terms of building your networking skills, figuring out the best way to approach a potential networking conversation, or how to do some very targeted outreach, be it in your job search, your leadership journey or even just expand on your own professional development, the place for you to do that is inside of my membership community. It is the Mid-Career GPS Membership Community. You can find it on my website, johnnarrellcom forward slash membership, and you can come in for $97 a month or 970 for the year. At the time of this recording. You can come in and be a part of a community with like-minded people and professionals who, like you all, care about advancing their career. They care about taking that next step, and one of the greatest things is that you then get to figure out how to build your network and build a networking strategy. That takes the weirdness out of it, because you are more confident and competent in how you want to build your network. So check that out. Johnnerrellcom forward slash membership. You go to the website, johnnerrellcom it'll be right up there at the top. You can click on the link. Would love to have you come on into the membership. It's a great way to start building your mid-career GPS and develop it even further.

Speaker 1: 21:12

All right, my friends, if there's one big action step from this episode, it's this Start building a networking strategy that you can confidently execute upon. And remember, it is not about always asking for things. Networking is about building a professional relationship with someone whom you trust, you like, you care about, you are invested in and you can be a support for them and they can be a support for you. So until next time, remember this you will build your mid-career GPS one mile or one step at a time, and how you show up matters. Make it a great rest of your day.

Speaker 1: 22:02

Thank you for listening to the Mid-Career GPS Podcast. Make sure to follow on your favorite listening platform and, if you have a moment, I'd love to hear your comments on Apple Podcasts. Visit johnnerrellcom for more information about how I can help you build your mid-career GPS or how I can help you and your organization with your next workshop or public speaking event. Help you and your organization with your next workshop or public speaking event. Don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on social at John Darrell Coaching. I look forward to being back with you next week. Until then, take care and remember how we show up matters. Thank you.