
When you’re feeling stuck in your career, it’s easy to look at someone else’s success and feel like it’s a million miles away.
You see that person with the job title you want, working at a company you admire, and it can feel like they know a secret that you don’t.
I speak to so many professionals who are in this exact situation. They have a proven track record but feel trapped, and the path forward looks complicated and unclear. It’s a tough situation, and you’re right to feel that way.
The story you might be telling yourself is that you have to figure this all out alone.
Let me offer you a different perspective.
The answers you’re looking for often lie with the very people you admire. You just need a practical way to ask.
Part 1: How to Find the Right People
Before you can connect with anyone, you have to find them. This isn’t about aimlessly scrolling through LinkedIn. It’s about being a detective in your own career search.
Your starting point is getting really clear on what you’re looking for.
Don’t just search for “Manager.” Instead, try something specific like “Operations Manager, FinTech, Belfast” or “Senior Consultant, Big Four, Dublin.” The more specific you are, the better your results will be.
When you find someone who looks interesting, don’t just look at their current job. Look at their whole career history.
Where did they work before this?
What qualifications do they have?
You’re looking for the steps they took to get where they are today.
The best person to find is someone who has made a leap that you want to make. Perhaps they moved from finance into a tech role, or from a technical specialist role into management. This proves your goal is achievable.
Your aim is to create a small, focused list of 3 to 5 people whose journey gives you a sense of possibility.
Part 2: How to Start a Conversation
I know this is often the hardest part. Reaching out to a stranger can feel uncomfortable, and the fear of being ignored is real.
The key is to remember this is not about you asking for a job. It is about you showing genuine interest in their career journey. People are usually willing to help when the request is respectful and shows you’ve done your homework.
Believe me, I have grown my own LinkedIn network to over 6,000 followers largely by reaching out to people I didn’t know. They don’t bite, mostly!
The trick is to warm up the conversation first. Don’t lead by asking for a meeting. Your first goal is much simpler: to get a reply and open a door.
Step 1: The First Message – Your Goal is to Start a Conversation
Your initial message should be light, complimentary, and end with one simple, open question that is easy for them to answer.
Here is a template for that first contact:
Hi [Name],
I hope you don’t mind me getting in touch. I came across your profile and was really impressed by your career path, especially how you moved from [Their Old Role] to your current position at [Their Company].
As someone currently thinking about a similar move, I found your journey really encouraging. I was just wondering, what was the most surprising thing you found when you first moved into the [Their New Industry/Role] sector?
All the best,
[Your Name]
This message is effective because the question is specific and requires a thoughtful but not lengthy answer. You are inviting them into a conversation, not asking them for their time.
Step 2: The Follow-Up – Now You Can Ask for a Call
Once they have replied to your first message, you have successfully started a conversation. They have invested a small amount of time and are now aware of you.
Now is the time to ask if they would be willing to talk further.
Here’s how you can phrase that second message:
Hi [Name],
Thanks so much for getting back to me, I really appreciate it. What you said about [Reference their answer] is really insightful and gives me a lot to think about.
I know you’ll be very busy, but your experience is so relevant to what I’m exploring. I was wondering if you would be open to a brief 15-minute call sometime in the next few weeks? I would simply like to learn a little more about your story.
No problem at all if you’re too busy, but I thought I’d ask.
All the best,
[Your Name]
By breaking the process into these two small steps, you build rapport and significantly increase your chances of getting that “yes.” You are showing that you are a considerate and strategic professional, which is a great first impression to make.
Part 3: What You Gain From a Single Conversation
Let me tell you about a client of mine. We’ll call him Mark. Mark was a fantastic analyst in a professional services firm, but he felt pigeonholed. His goal was to move into a more commercial, client-facing leadership role, but he kept being told he didn’t have the right experience.
He was frustrated and his confidence was low.
We worked together, and he found a director at another Belfast firm who had made that exact switch about five years earlier. He used the approach above to send a message. He was nervous, but he got a positive reply.
That one 20-minute phone call was pivotal for him. This is the real reason why taking these steps is worth the effort.
Here is what Mark got from it:
A realistic picture. He learned what the leadership role was really like, the day to day challenges and wins. It was no longer a vague idea; it was a concrete role he could understand.
Actionable advice. He was told, “The one thing I did that made a difference was putting my hand up to lead our team’s charity initiative. It wasn’t a ‘real’ project, but it gave me the leadership examples I needed for my CV.” This was practical advice he could use immediately.
A clear roadmap. Before the call, the move felt like a huge, impossible leap. Afterwards, he could see the smaller, manageable steps he needed to take. The path was no longer hidden.
A new contact. He didn’t just get advice. He started to build his network. The director now knew who he was, what he wanted to achieve, and ended the call by saying “Stay in touch.”
The journey to your next role doesn’t have to be guesswork. The blueprint is already there, held by those who have gone before you.
If figuring out who to contact or what to say feels daunting, that is precisely the kind of work I support my clients with. If you would like some help creating a networking strategy that actually works, get in touch to book a free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation.