By Karen Friesen

Remember when you were little and people would ask what you wanted to be when you grew up —and you’d blurt out "firefighter!” or “dancer!” without a moment of hesitation?

Then you turned 18 and it was time to go to college and you were pretty sure you wanted to be, let’s say, an engineer, so that’s what you did.

Then you graduated, did the engineering thing for a few years, and said to yourself: What was I thinking?! And now you’re 42 and guess what? You finally know what you what to be when you grow up. Yay! But guess what again? It’s not an engineer.

Ugh.

It can be exciting and vexing and scary when an epiphany like this hits you. I mean, what are you even supposed to do with this information?

Let’s assume you’re not going to ignore it. No way. A revelation like this calls for contemplation at a minimum.

More likely? It calls for action in the form of a career pivot.

Depending on the type of change you aim to make, a career pivot can take a fairly monumental effort, maybe just require a few subtle tweaks to your overall direction, or fall somewhere in the middle. It could mean going back to school, earning certifications or even taking a step back in your career to ultimately get where you want to be.

No matter how complex the path to this next chapter in your career may be, you’ll be very wise to build networking into your overall game plan. When you’re making a career pivot, you’ve got to let your people help you, and you need to forge connections in the field you’re eyeing.

But wait, networking is hard…

It can feel a bit daunting, for sure. But you’re going to be best equipped to make the transition efficiently (and successfully) if you solicit the input and support of others.

So where do you begin?

Your lowest hanging networking fruit is going to be your people (and your people’s people). Letting your inner circle in on the news that you’re planning a career shift is ground zero for networking; telling even five key people about your plans can exponentially increase your chances of making a legitimate new career connection.

Now, if you’re working on this “under the radar” and don’t want your current employer finding out about it, you’ll need to take extra care about who you spill the beans to. Make a list of your closest, trusted contacts, prioritizing those who work in your field of interest – or perhaps for a particular organization you’ve got your eye on. Let them know your goals, and listen up for any advice they can dish up.

Consider writing a “networking letter”

“Huh?” you may ask. Think about this: how much do you understand about what some of even your closest friends actually do for a living? If you’re like many of us, you probably know the basics: your running buddy is in IT at a startup. But guess what? They probably don’t know many specifics beyond that. And that’s where a networking letter (or email, or conversation) comes into play. It’s a fantastic way to let people know:

You’re looking to switch careers
What exactly it is you plan to do next
What skills you’d like to put to work in your next job
Potential job titles for your next role
How, specifically, they can help (e.g. make introductions, alert you of any relevant openings, etc.)

EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

If you’re thinking about a career change, now’s the time to expand your professional network to include people working in the field you’re eyeing, at a company of interest, and/or in the types of roles you’d like to target. Certainly, if you can snag intros to the big thought leaders in your desired field, go for it. But the superstars tend to be less available, so don’t shy away from cold approaching peer-level people with a quick question, authentic compliment about their work, or request for an informational interview.

Be a little bit bold. Sure, strangers are scary, but if you approach zero people, guess how many yeses you will get? That’s right: Zero.

But if you approach 10 people and two respond favorably, you’re already 20% ahead of the game. (And, guess what? Those who don’t respond are likely not saying “no” to you; they’re probably too busy, or they overlooked your note, or they’re just not helpful anyways, and all of that is A-OK.)

Reach out with a friendly, professional message. Let them know how you found them, explain that you are planning a career change and let them know why, specifically, they stood out as a great potential connection. Ask if they’d be up for a quick call – just 15 minutes or so. If they agree – perfect! You’ve made a new connection, and gained a resource for valuable information you may need to help get you where you want to go.

Join THE CLUB

Joining a relevant (to where you want to be) association, group or club may also make networking a lot easier for you. What’s more, you might gain access to invaluable resources for continuing education, or dedicated career support resources.

SAY HEY TO FELLOW ALUMNI

People tend to be particularly great about looking out for and helping their fellow alumni, so be sure and tap into your university network, especially if you’re just getting started with “cold approach” networking. It will feel a lot less “cold” if you can open with something like, “I see you’re a fellow Wolverine. Go Blue!”

And the cool thing is… you can find them right over on LinkedIn.

So, if you’re that engineer who has finally decided to pursue something new, these ideas should get you started in connecting with people who may be incredibly helpful as things unfold.

And, if you need step-by-step help through the pivot…

We’ve got you covered.

Check out our recently launched course, “Change Your Career, Change Your Life,” a self-paced video masterclass that will walk you through every stage of a career pivot, from initial idea through your first successful weeks in a new job or career.

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Or, grab a copy of our downloadable ebook, How to Make a Career Pivot. We’re offering $15 off (Reg. $39) with promo code PIVOTKIT.