“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” (Dale Carnegie, motivational writer and lecturer)
During the Define stage, you identified and/or clarified your strengths and priorities and learned how to succeed in career exploration through career chats. In the Plan stage, you turned your reflections into ways to clearly define who you are and what value you bring to the table with conversation starters.
This chapter marks the shift from defining your value to sharing it with the world. While many call this process networking, we choose to call it building community. Networking often feels like a transaction, something you do when you need a job or want to get ahead. Building community is about forming authentic, long-term relationships and learning from people who inspire you.
Building community is a critical way to ramp up your job search efforts. Because your future grows through the people you know, we show you how to find, connect with, and maintain important professional relationships.
As you read this chapter, consider the people already in your life: Who might be able to help you today, and who would you like to learn from tomorrow?
Having just a few career chats is only the beginning, but not enough. To truly build a professional community, you must stay in touch over time. This creates a support system that moves with you from one job to the next. You don't need to reach out weekly. You just need to keep the connection alive with small, meaningful updates, so that you always have people to turn to for advice and to help you find new opportunities for years to come.
When you talk to people in your target field, you gain 'on-the-ground' knowledge (insider insights) that you can't find in a job description or on a webpage. You can use this information to test and refine tactics like your conversation starter or a new version of your resume.
Further, many jobs are never posted on public job boards. They are filled through the exact types of career chats you are learning to have right now. Your community helps you find these opportunities before a job description is even posted. In addition, most managers would rather hire someone recommended by a person they trust than read 500 resumes from strangers. Don't wait for a job post to appear. Use your growing community to help you show up before the competition does.
In this course, we focus on two kinds of building community: in-person and digital. We will help you make the most of each one.
Create a short list of individuals, groups, or organizations you want to learn from, and why. This gives your job search direction and ensures that when you do reach out, you have a specific reason for the conversation.
Identify your ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ circles. You don't have to start from zero. You can build a community by starting with people you already know, like family, friends, teachers, college alumni, or former coworkers. These people are your ‘inner circle’.
We often assume our friends, family, and neighbors can’t help us if they work in a completely different field. But we shouldn't underestimate the people we already know and trust. In reality, most jobs come through a 'friend of a friend' - your outer circle.
In building community, these are called 'weak connections' or your outer circle. Don't let the name fool you. These casual acquaintances are often the source of your most lucrative opportunities, even more so than your inner circle. But remember, the easiest way to reach that outer circle is by starting with the people you already know.
Go where your community is. Look for in-person and virtual places where your community hangs out.
In-person: Local Meetups; Eventbrite conferences and workshops; ACC and City of Austin career fairs; and alumni events
Digital: Professional subreddits, Github (tech), Behance (design), Discord (gaming), or Facebook and LinkedIn groups (We talk in detail about digital networking in our chapter on LinkedIn.)
Be a good listener. Listening is a 'superpower' in building community. Asking thoughtful questions and paying attention to their answers (not anticipating or preparing your next response in your head), shows genuine respect for the other person’s time and experience.
Show that community building is a two-way street. Relationships grow when they are based on genuine exchange rather than one-sided requests. As you build your professional community, demonstrate that you are an active partner ready to offer your own insights, rather than someone who is looking for a job opening. Regardless of your experience level, you can transform a simple contact into a lifelong relationship by making introductions, sharing a new app or articles, periodically checking in, or becoming a digital follower and commenting on posts (e.g., LinkedIn).
Embrace your ‘outer circle’. A personal referral makes people in the ‘outer circle’ much easier to talk to because you are no longer a stranger. You are a friend of a friend.
Only connecting when you are looking for work. Reaching out only when you are looking for a job can make relationships feel transactional. To build a genuine community, make it a habit to check in a few times, even if it is only to share a brief update on your job search or academic program. As we expressed earlier, consistent follow-up is what turns a single conversation into a lasting relationship.
Failing to organize your community. As your community grows, it becomes difficult to remember the details of every interaction. Forgetting what you discussed or who referred you can lead to awkward repeat questions. Keeping track of who you spoke with and one or two key takeaways will help you follow up with confidence and precision. People feel seen when you recall a conversation with them, and your relationship becomes more personal and meaningful.
Not following up with referrals. When someone gives you a referral, they are lending you their professional trust. If you don't reach out to that contact or fail to tell the person who referred you how it went, you break that chain of trust.
Forgetting the final touch. A verbal “Thanks” at the end of the conversation is not enough. Send a written note (email) within 24 hours of a career chat. It is the simplest way to show that you are a professional and respect other people’s time, and it helps you leave a memorable, positive impression!
Close the loop by sending a 'Progress Update' weeks or even months later. For example: “I wanted to let you know I followed your advice about that certification, and I just passed the exam!” This small act transforms a one-time meeting into a lasting professional bond.
Start small. You don't have to start building your professional community with the CEO of a company. Practice your conversation starter (and your brand statement) with people you feel comfortable with, like professional peers and friends.
Use GenAI to research a contact’s industry or the specific ‘high-growth’ trends. You can prompt GenAI to: "Give me three thoughtful questions to ask a Senior Web Developer about the impact of AI on their current workflow." This adds value to the substance of your career chats and shows the person you have done your homework. This is how you build trust and respect, and ultimately, a supportive community.
Before reaching out for a conversation, check it against your North Star and career priorities from the Define stage. Ask yourself: "Does this person align with my core values and long-term direction?" Focusing your energy on ‘best-fit’ connections prevents burnout and helps you build a community that is filled with people who inspire you.
As we discussed in the chapter on career chats, when you approach people with a genuine desire to learn, you stop ‘asking for favors’ and start building real relationships.
Building community starts with simple curiosity, is maintained through consistency, and grows through follow-through. Like any skill, building community improves through practice, not perfection. The only mistake is waiting to feel ‘ready’ before starting. Start now by reaching out to someone you know and trust.
