How Senior-Level Professionals Can Network to Find Their Next Role

TL;DR:

• Relationships > Applications
  At the senior level, many senior roles are filled through referrals, professional connections, and internal networks; not just a job board posting.
• Start Networking Before You Need It
  Treat networking like the long game of your career, not a last-minute job search tactic.
• Leverage Your Existing Network First
  Former colleagues, past managers, and industry contacts already know your work. Start there before cold outreach.
• Focus on Building Relationships, Not Collecting Contacts
  Meaningful connections with hiring managers, decision makers, and industry leaders are built on value, active listening, and genuine interest.
• Use Both In-Person and Digital Platforms
  Networking events, industry events, virtual events, and online platforms like LinkedIn all play a role in modern, effective networking.
• Stay Visible, Share Insights, and Show How You Think
  Senior professionals who share insights, comment on LinkedIn posts, and stay up to date on industry trends tend to attract more job openings and new opportunities over time.

Skip down to see my 7 strategies for networking success!

Introduction: A Personal Story from My Own Job Search

In 2019, I started job searching after spending eight years at the Boeing Company. Like many senior level professionals making a shift, I wasn’t entirely sure how to begin.

What I did know, though, was that relationships matter.

So I started small.

I began sending simple gratitude messages to my old managers and former colleagues who had since moved on from Boeing and joined other companies. These weren’t asks or cold pitches. Just sincere notes of thanks for their past support, and a quick update on where I was in my career.

The results? Almost 100% of the messages got a response. And several turned into coffee chats, referrals, and even interview opportunities. In the end, I landed a Senior Manager of Product role at Amazon; a leadership role I wouldn’t have accessed by applications alone.

That experience reshaped how I thought about networking during a job search. Especially at the senior level.

This blog outlines the principles and tactics I now share with clients at Broda Coaching who are looking for senior, principal, and executive-level roles.

If you're wondering how senior level professionals can network to find their next role in today’s job market, this blog post is for you.

How Senior Level Professionals Can Network to Find Their Next Role (Overview)

Networking With Hiring Managers and Other Decision Makers

Let’s talk about what’s actually happening behind the scenes.

When companies open senior roles, hiring managers and key decision makers are asking themselves:

• “Who do we already know who could do this?”
• “Who has our team worked with before?”
• “Who has come recommended by someone we trust?”

Recent research suggests that employee referrals and connections are still one of the top channels companies use to source and evaluate candidates; especially for higher-impact positions.

That means:

• Hiring managers lean heavily on professional connections they already have.
• Decision makers look for low-risk, high-trust options rather than starting from scratch.
• Job seekers who only rely on job boards miss many of the conversations happening informally.

Your goal is to show up in these conversations before a job is posted:

• As the person a former colleague names when a senior level role opens.
• As someone an industry leader has seen sharing valuable insights on LinkedIn posts.
• As the senior level professional who has already built rapport through industry events and informal networking.
  

Start With Your Existing Network and Existing Contacts

Before you worry about meeting new contacts at networking events, look at your existing network.

For most senior level job seekers, your fastest path to momentum is through:

• Former colleagues.
• Past colleagues and managers.
• Other employees you’ve collaborated with across teams.
• Industry contacts and thought leaders who already follow your work.

Most of the time, these people:

• Already understand your expertise.
• Have seen your leadership in action.
• Are connected to other professionals, other attendees at events, and other employees inside companies you may want to work for.

You can use your existing network to:

• Pressure test your elevator pitch.
• Learn how your brand is perceived today.
• Get feedback on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
• Discover which target companies might be hiring for senior roles.

Senior professionals who I coach often have established networks that are larger than they realize.

Building Relationships (Not Just Swapping Business Cards)

At this stage in your career, how you build professional relationships matters more than how many you build.

Here’s the mindset I coach:

Networking for senior professionals requires a "give-before-you-get" mindset to build long-term trust.

That means focusing on:

• Active listening. Practice active listening to understand what matters to the person in front of you.
• Giving first. Share an interesting article, a quick observation, or a “thought of you when I saw this” note.
• Genuine interest. Ask thoughtful questions and stay curious about their work, team, and constraints.

A few practical ways to build meaningful connections:

• Share insights from your leadership experience when relevant.
• Offer help—an intro, a resource, or a small way to make their work easier.
• Remember key details and follow up later (“How did that launch go?”).

Relationship building is cumulative. Maintaining and nurturing your network is as important as building it.

The most effective job seekers treat networking like gardening, not fishing, focusing on long-term relationships rather than short-term favors.

In-Person Networking: How to Show Up at Events as a Senior Level Professional

In a world of Zoom and virtual events, in person networking is still incredibly powerful for senior level professionals.

Conferences, trade shows, and local industry events give you:

• Real-time conversations.
• Space for casual interactions in hallways and coffee lines.
• The chance to read the room, build rapport, and leave a memorable impression.

I tell my clients that they should be prepared to speak intelligently about themselves and their value in the marketplace.

To help my clients do this and get the most out of in-person networking events, I tell them:

• Prepare your focus.
• Know which target companies you want to meet.
• Identify a few hiring managers, industry leaders, or thought leaders you’d like to connect with.
• Refine your elevator pitch.
• Who you are.
• The kind of role you’re targeting.
• The type of problems you’re best at solving.
• Ask thoughtful questions.
  Instead of talking about yourself the whole time, ask things like:
• “What’s the biggest challenge your team is facing this quarter?”
• “How has your org adapted to recent industry trends?”
• Follow up intentionally.
• Send a short, specific follow-up to new contacts.
• Reference something you discussed and offer one small way you can be helpful.

In-person conversations compress months of online networking into a single afternoon. When you combine them with ongoing digital touchpoints, you build a stronger professional network faster.

Not sure how to find networking events? Check out my guide detailing how senior level professionals can find networking events.

Networking for Career Advancement in a Competitive Job Market

Even when you’re not actively in a job search, your network is shaping your career advancement.

Senior leaders who treat networking as “career maintenance” instead of a panic button:

• Hear about job openings before they’re posted.
• Get invited into informal networking conversations about new initiatives.
• Are considered for stretch roles or cross-functional positions because they’re qualities are already known.

A few levers you can pull:

• Stay engaged with industry contacts through occasional check-ins.
• Join communities and groups where other professionals in your space gather.
• Participate in community service or volunteer boards that align with your expertise and values.
• Use digital platforms and online forums to join discussions about where your industry is headed.

The job market will always change. Your professional network, personal brand, and relationship building habits are what keep you relevant and resilient.

Using Industry Events and Online Platforms to Expand Your Network

You don’t have to choose between industry events or online platforms. You need both.

Here’s how they work together to help you expand your network:

Industry Events

• Conferences, meetups, and other industry events put you in the same room as:
• Senior leaders
• Hiring managers
• Key decision makers
• These environments are ideal for:
• Asking thoughtful questions
• Gaining valuable insights into where companies are headed
• Understanding how your expertise maps to future needs

Online Platforms & Digital Platforms

Platforms like LinkedIn give you leverage, even if you only have a free account:

• A clear LinkedIn profile that highlights your leadership role, expertise, and accomplishments.
• Sharing short posts where you share insights from your work or reflect on industry trends.
• Regularly commenting on LinkedIn posts from thought leaders, companies, and peers.

You don’t need to become an influencer. You just need to:

• Stay visible.
• Show what it’s like to work with you.
• Make it easy for other professionals to understand the problems you solve.

When you show up consistently at industry events and online, you’re much more likely to be top of mind when someone hears about a senior level opening that fits your background.

Effective Networking: Putting It All Together Before We Go Tactical

So far, we’ve talked strategy:

• How senior level professionals can network to find their next role.
• Why professional relationships matter to hiring managers and decision makers.
• Where in person and virtual networking fit into your overall career.

Now let’s shift into tactics—the specific, effective strategies I coach senior level job seekers to use in real life.



Everything below lives under one umbrella:

Effective networking is about creating opportunities through conversations, not waiting for companies to post them.

How to Network as a Senior Level Job Seeker: 7 Strategies for Success

Here are seven of the most effective strategies I coach job seekers to use when building their network. These go beyond the basic advice and help establish long-term, mutually beneficial professional relationships and professional connections.

1. The Gratitude Outreach Method (Existing Contacts in Your Existing Network)

When thinking about networking as a senior level professional in today's job market, start here.

This method worked for me personally. In 2019, after nearly a decade at Boeing, I reached out to previous managers and mentors with short messages of thanks. Not one of those messages asked for a job. But nearly all of them turned into conversations, and those conversations led to opportunities.

How to do it:

• Keep it short. Three or four sentences max.
• Make it personal. Reference a specific time, moment, or contribution that impacted you.
• End with a light invitation. Ask if they’d be open to catching up, not to help you find a job, but just to connect.

Example message:

“Hi [Name], I was reflecting on my time at [Company] and just wanted to say thank you. Your mentorship during [project/team] really shaped how I think about leadership today. I’d love to catch up sometime if you’re open. Hope you’re doing well.”

Why it works:

It’s authentic, respects their time, and makes no demands. Because it centers on them, people respond because we all want to know we made an impact.

2. Warm Introductions from Mutual Contacts

If you’re targeting specific companies or industries, warm intros are gold as a job candidate.

They shortcut the trust-building process. You’re no longer a random applicant. You’re now someone a shared contact vouched for. That subtle difference completely changes how you're received.

How to do it:

• Search your LinkedIn profile for shared connections with employees at your target company.
• Reach out to your contact and cover the following in a series of messages:
• If you haven't chatted in sometime, ask how they've been or how their current role is.
• Provide something of value such as a relevant article you read on industry trends.
• Let them know you're exploring new roles.
• Mention the person you'd like to connect with.
• Ask if they’d feel comfortable making an intro.
• Offer a short blurb they can copy/paste in the intro message; make it easy for them.

Example blurb you can provide:

“Hey [Target Contact], I wanted to connect you with [Your Name]—we worked together at [Company]. They’re exploring new leadership roles in [industry/function] and are interested in learning more about [Target Company]. Figured a quick intro might be helpful for both of you!”

Pro tip:

After the intro, circle back to thank your existing contact and follow up again once the conversation happens. That simple gesture leaves a positive impression and encourages future introductions.

3. Commenting with Intention on LinkedIn

Still wondering how to network without sending dozens of cold messages?

Start in the comments.

Comments are a low-effort, high-reward way to build familiarity, especially when you consistently engage with people in your desired industry or role.

How to do it:

• Make a list of 5-10 target professionals: hiring managers, thought leaders, or directors in your space.
• Set a weekly goal: engage with 3-5 of their posts every week.
• Write meaningful comments. Add context, personal reflections, or thoughtful questions.

Example:

Instead of commenting “So true,” say:

“This reminded me of a project we ran at [Company] where we struggled with the same thing. One thing that helped us was [brief insight]. Curious if your team has tried anything similar?”

Why it works:

Over time, people begin to recognize your name. When you eventually message them directly, you’re not a stranger, you’re that person with insightful takes. This sets you up for networking success.

4. Attend Strategic Networking Events (Even Virtual Ones)

5. Host a Roundtable or Invite-Only Meetup

Want to grow your personal brand, expand your network, and gain insights at the same time?

Host something small.

You don’t need a big platform, a podcast, or a polished deck. Just a Zoom link and a short list of thoughtful professionals you respect.

The goal isn’t to impress. It’s to connect. As the host, you position yourself as a convener of smart, forward-looking people. That kind of signal builds credibility fast.

How to do it:

• Pick a topic that sparks real conversation. Make it relevant to your role, industry, or area of leadership.
• Curate your invite list—5-7 peers or colleagues; former coworkers, industry contacts, past managers, or respected voices in your space.
• Send 1:1 messages. Let them know you’re pulling together a small group for open discussion, not a formal event.
• Set a simple agenda. No slides. Just a few starter questions to prompt discussion.
• End with generosity. Thank attendees afterward with a short personal note. Offer to support their content, share their open roles, or make intros where relevant.

Optional: With permission, summarize key takeaways from the conversation and post them on LinkedIn (anonymized). It reinforces your brand as someone who creates spaces for valuable insight and invites others to connect.

Why it works:

Hosting is a powerful tool that puts you in a position of quiet authority. It says: This person knows smart people. This person brings value. This person leads.

And in the eyes of hiring managers, leaders get hired.

6. Use Content to Reinforce Your Personal Brand

7. Reconnect with Career Coaches, Mentors, and Advisors

You don’t need to go it alone.

Career coaches, former mentors, and peers you’ve trusted over the years can be some of the most valuable allies during a job search.

They know your story. They’ve seen your work. And they probably know people who are hiring.

How to do it:

Send a message that’s honest and low-pressure:

“Hi [Name], I’m exploring new roles and thinking through next steps in my career. I’ve always valued your perspective; would you be open to a short catch-up?”

Be clear about what you’re targeting:

“I’m focused on senior operations roles in clean tech, ideally at mission-driven orgs.”

“Looking to move from large enterprise into midsize orgs where I can scale systems.”

Seek advice and insights, not a job. Often, this turns into job search support anyway.

Why it works:

Relationships are your best long-term career strategy. These are the people who want to help, but they need to know you’re in motion.

Executive Circles, Peer Groups, and Other High-Level Networking Spaces

As you move further into senior roles, you’ll see more executive circles and curated communities; invite-only groups of senior leaders, VPs, or functional experts.

When approached the right way, these spaces can:

• Give you direct access to other decision makers.
• Put you in proximity to people who regularly hear about new opportunities.
• Help you gain insights on how other companies are solving complex problems.

If you’re considering joining an executive circle or similar group:

• Look for groups where members actually show up and share insights.
• Be ready to contribute, not just consume; bring your expertise, stories, and frameworks.
• Treat every interaction as relationship building, not a place to pitch yourself for a job.
• Respect others’ time and confidentiality.

The point isn’t to walk out with an offer. The point is to deepen your network at the level where strategic decisions, and strategic hires, are being made.

Final Takeaway: Play the Long Game With Your Network

When senior level job seekers ask me how to network without feeling awkward or sales-y, I tell them this:

Networking is not about asking for a job.

It’s about positioning yourself as someone who adds value, builds trust, and creates momentum through conversations, not transactions.

In practice, that looks like:

1. Building long-term relationships (not short-term favors).
   Treat networking like gardening, not fishing. Plant seeds early, stay consistent, be patient while trust and visibility grow.
2. Listening more than you speak.
   People remember how you made them feel heard. Active listening, thoughtful questions, and genuine interest are competitive advantages.
3. Helping others before you ask for help.
   Share an interesting article. Offer a quick intro. Show up at community service events. Celebrate other professionals’ wins.

When you focus on these behaviors, you’ll notice something:

• Your professional network becomes your referral engine.
• You hear about more articles, resources, and ideas that sharpen your own thinking.
• You’re in a much better position when it’s time to make your next move.

In a hiring market where trust is scarce and high-quality referrals matter, your relationships will outlast any resume you send and open more doors than any job board ever could.

How We Can Work Together

If you’re a senior level job seeker navigating today’s hiring landscape, you're not alone. Whether you're ready to pivot industries, re-enter the job market, or grow into a bigger leadership role, there's a proven way to do it, without burning out.

Interested in getting help with your job search and networking strategy? Let’s talk it over on a FREE discovery call.

At Broda Coaching, we help leaders:

• Clarify their story and positioning.
• Strengthen their personal brand and LinkedIn profile.
• Build real relationships that move the needle in their career.

No fluff. Just strategy that works.