How to network in the climate space

- According to a CNBC report, 70% of jobs aren't published and 80% are filled through connections. We know that networking is essential, but how do you do it? Let me share my networking story and how it led me to where I am today. I'm an outdoor enthusiast and have always cared deeply about the environment, but I believe that my passion and profession were two separate avenues. During my job search, I came across a posting for a climate tech recruiter role. I'm not a recruiter, but the idea of a climate tech recruitment agency piqued my interest. I messaged Climate People's Founder about learning more. Our 30 minute allotted time slot quickly turned into a two hour conversation. By the end of the call, we had drafted my job description and I started my current role three weeks later. Here are five tips so that you can follow suit. My first tip is to curb your expectations. The very point of networking is to make genuine connections. While all these will likely lead to an opportunity down the line, you must flip your preconceived notions and focus on the interaction rather than the outcome. Second, make sure you're prepared for the conversation. Do research on the person and their company and be able to articulate how you could assist. Think of this interaction as a symbiotic relationship. Rather than saying I'd love to learn more about your company, you could say something like, I love your company and the walkable city infrastructure you're building. I have five years of experience in city planning and would love to draw on your experience while providing insights on best practices that have worked for me. Doing this shows your explicit interest while highlighting what you offer, put yourself in their shoes and be able to pinpoint what they would gain by talking with you. My third tip is to network before you need it. As you know, networking is beneficial for job hunting, but at its root, it's all about relationship building. So rather than building an entire network when needed, make it a small function of your typical week and gradually create a community of people on your side. Fourth, persistence is key. If you have a meaningful connection with someone continue to foster the relationship. Ensure you send a thank you note after every conversation and bonus points if you make the message personal and draw parallels back to your discussion. Lastly, leverage your connections. You don't have to start from scratch, scour through your contacts and see if you can get introductions. You can also search for people by your university, second connections, previous employers, and so on. From there, you should act on the common ground and ask to hop on a call. Always ask for recommendations for other people in their network. The more people we have working in climate, the brighter all of our futures will be. People in this space are generally very open to conversations. Use that to your advantage and start building your network. Take a moment now to go to your LinkedIn page. Find three people you have a shared interest with. Send them a message and start networking.