Networking Success Stories
September: welcome to reset month. Kids are back to school and settling back into routine. This season is a natural time to reset and recommit to goals — whether that’s getting more organized, starting something new, or making progress in your job search.
One of the questions I hear most often from jobseekers: “Does networking really work?”
The short answer: Yes.
We hear it all the time: networking feels awkward, time-consuming, or even pointless. But when it works, it really works. Networking isn’t just about happy hours and commenting on LinkedIn posts. It’s about building real relationships that open doors in unexpected ways. To show you what I mean, we asked our community to share their networking wins.
Here are a few stories from anonymous jobseekers who landed interviews, opportunities, and new roles thanks to networking:
“After getting laid off I tried to expand my network at organizations I was interested in working for. If I saw an open role on a job board, I would search LinkedIn for people who worked there and see if I had any second degree connections. Someone I worked with at my previous organization was good friends with someone at the organization I was applying to; I had a chat with her on zoom about the organizational culture and a role I was interested in and she referred me to the hiring team. While I got an interview, I wasn’t hired. A few months later, the person I was networking with actually moved onto another role and recommended me for her own job, which I interviewed for and got!”
“Early in my job search I was receiving responses from recruiters and participating in interviews. After a few months, though, it plateaued. I wasn’t progressing past the resume review stage. Then my coach had me invest more time into networking. When I reached out to network with someone I used to work with at a foundation earlier in my career, they enthusiastically responded back. I always thought networking for myself was a burden to someone else, but they were genuinely wanting to help. They set me up with three more people to talk to.”
“I had been running my organization for close to two decades, and I was starting to think deeply about what I wanted next. So I took the leap to pursue my dream of becoming a librarian. I applied for a few part-time library jobs in my community and got nowhere. Then I saw a posting for a local library conference. I decided to go. I networked, I met people, I told them about my interests. One of those conversations was with the head of my hometown’s library. Through that connection, I learned there was an upcoming opening in the children’s room. She even sent me the job description directly. I applied, interviewed, and got the offer. Networking is what got me here.”
“I hadn’t emphasized networking in my search strategy, and I wasn’t getting anywhere. Then I started being really strategic with my networking, messaging 6-10 people each week asking to set up calls. This was previous coworkers, old college friends, and also people I didn’t know well but that I followed on LinkedIn for a long time. When I began to see more actual meetings on my calendar, I felt that my search had immediately improved and become more proactive.”
“I started to do more networking because I was feeling directionless and hopeless in my job and career-building search. Before my first few networking calls, I invested time into my ‘big picture’ thinking to get clear on what types of roles I am looking for. I started to feel more confident in saying what I want during my networking conversations, and that has led to new connections. Now I have two interviews coming up.”
Each of these stories looks different, but the common thread is clear: someone took a chance to reach out, connect, and follow up. That’s how opportunities are built.
If you’re feeling stuck in your search, start small: message four to five people this week. Ask a colleague for an introduction. Say yes to that coffee chat. You never know which conversation could be the one that shifts your path forward. We also have a few resources for you:
See if our coaching programs are right for you.
If you haven’t yet, join our NRG Talent Network and gain access to the NRG Networking Toolkit.
Sign up for an upcoming Small Group Coaching Session (A budget-friendly way to receive direct coaching support). 9/24 is all about crafting a resume. 10/22 is all about networking.
We’d love to keep sharing more success stories. If you’ve had a win through networking recently, hit reply and let us know!
Executive Director @ Gamaliel | Remote | $150K
Vice President of Finance & Administration @ Community Foundation for MetroWest | Natick, MA (hybrid) | $140K-$150K
Senior Finance Officer @ Movement Voter Project | Remote | $120K-$140K
Senior Manager, Employee Relations & Development @ Roosevelt Institute | NYC or DC | $103.9K-$115.4K
Director of Strategic Communications @ Upstream | Remote | $90K-$110K
Social Media Writer @ Freedom Forum | Remote | $92K-$96K
Senior Program Officer, Equity @ ICLEI USA | Remote | $78K-$95K
Policy Associate @ FULU Foundation | Chicago, IL | $80K-$90K
Hudson Valley Organizing Coordinator @ Open New York | Hudson Valley | $65K-$75K
Westchester Organizing Coordinator @ Open New York | Westchester, NY | $65K-$75K
Senior Director of Community Engagement @ Industrial Commons | Morganton, NC | $65K-$75K
Program Coordinator @ Social Innovation Forum | Boston, MA | $64K
That’s not all! We’re hiring for additional jobs and you can see all of them on the NRG website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
📢 Follow NRG on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the roles we’re hiring for.
📬 Not a member of the NRG Talent Network yet? Take 3 minutes to fill out a quick form and let us know you're thinking about your next role.
Let’s move,
Naomi
P.S. If you’d like a partner to help you with your job search strategy, sign up right now for 15 minutes with Kristin to learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you. If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! If you received this from a friend, sign up here to receive future “Get Hired'' newsletters.