Leverage Your Network
For Opportunities
Networking is an essential skill to master in today’s job market. When hiring, recruiters have the challenging task of picking one person from hundreds of applicants. Choosing somebody they have interacted with before or someone a trusted employee is able to vouch for is an easier decision than selecting someone they’ve never met or only met through a brief interview.
“Today, some estimates suggest that up to 70% of all jobs are not published on publicly available job search sites, and research has long shown that anywhere from half to upwards of 80% of jobs are filled through networking. ”
Expected Outcomes
By the end of this CAP, you will be able to...
- Grow your network using LinkedIn
- Confidently connect with your network about opportunities
- Appropriately follow up with your network without being overbearing
- Understand how to use networking for your job search
This CAP is for you if…
- You are actively searching for a new role
- You are planning for a transition in the future
- You want to be prepared for new opportunities that may come your way
Growth & Learning
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Explore these valuable resources from the best experts in the field
How to Ask for Career Help
It’s essential for us to recognize that the most successful people ask for (and receive) help all the time. This Podcast by Coaching for Leaders covers how to ask for career help.
45 minutes
This podcast by Coaching for Leaders discusses how to prepare for and approach people in your network for career help. From what to say, to how to gain mentors and advocates, this episode covers how to be memorable in a genuine way by making human connections.

Top Five Strategies For Growing and Leveraging Your Network To Unlock Opportunities
One of the most important endeavors for our professional growth and success is also one of the most confusing and intimidating for many (if not most) people.
2 minutes
This article covers strategies to develop your professional network, as well as some of the ways you can use your network to become more effective and achieve your career goals.

How Leaders Develop and Use Their Network
While networking is often enthusiastically embraced by individuals just entering the workforce or seeking to make a career change, it can be neglected by mid-career and senior professionals who believe their network is adequate and no longer needs to expand.
4 minutes
This article offers several strategies specifically for senior leaders, as well as a look at some of the ways you can use your network to become more effective and achieve your career goals.
How to Ask Your Network for Help With Your Job Search
Did you ever consider that your network might hold the key to your next career move? Here's how to put you (existing!) network to work—and find your next career move.
2 minutes
One of the quickest ways to kickstart a job search or uncover hidden leads is to reach out to the people you already know. This article covers a few different ways to connect, as well as an email or LinkedIn message template to use.

15 Tips on How to network With Senior Executives Without Anxiety
It’s quite natural to feel a bit apprehensive about approaching other executives at your company and trying to forge relationships with them. However, professional success is often dependent on having the right connections.
3 minutes
Following these 15 tips on how to network with other senior executives will help you overcome your reservations and develop good relationships with them.

Insight From Our Executive Career Strategist
Glean curated insights from our Executive Career Strategists on strategic ways to network with other executives for your professional growth.
2 minutes
Glean curated insights from our Executive Career Strategists on strategic ways to network with other executives for your professional growth.
Leverage Your Humanity Talent Network Membership
HTN has tools and resources that can help you achieve your objectives in this CAP
Curated Opportunities
Receive curated opportunities and introductions based upon your expertise and personal preferences.
- Executive-level roles
- Board positions
- Consulting engagements
- Investor introductions
- Speaking opportunities
Expert Community
HTN "Collectives" enable deep engagement with women & people of color who are functional and specialty area SMEs.
- CEOs
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Commercial Officers
- Chief Medical Officers
- Chief Technology Officers
- Chief Innovation Officers
Events
Interactive events led by industry experts to help leaders navigate professional opportunities, transitions and challenges.
- Career Studios
- Roundtable Discussions
- Salon Dinners
- Mini-Summits
- Annual Summit Events
Put it into Practice
It’s time to put what you learned into real-world practice. Here are a few steps you can take

Solidify Your Networking Goals
Solidify your networking goals using our Humanity Talent Network worksheet: Setting Your Networking Goals and Identifying Key Stakeholders
Identify Your Network
Identify 5-10 people in your network who can potentially help you with your goal. Add them to your HTN Networking Tracker.
identify Culture Questions
Use the HTN Networking templates to develop your own set of customized networking templates for easy, effective outreach
Connect With a Coach
Each member has access to an Executive Career Strategist who is tasked with helping you achieve your professional goals.
A few topics you might discuss with an ECS include:
- Discuss any obstacles with reaching out to people (I.e. nervous about reaching out to people you don’t know, don’t like networking events, don’t like to ask for help, etc)
- Activate your networking plan including connecting with people who will help you with your goal
- Meet with people identified via informational interviews, share your story and your goals, identify potential sponsor
- Craft an outreach strategy and elevator pitch that is authentic to you and builds your confidence.
What to share with your ECS:
- Your completed networking tracker (optional)
- Your completed networking templates (optional)
