Driven By Impact: Making Networking Work for You

Driven By Impact 🌱

Edition 33: December 1, 2023

Networking Deep Dive

In the professional world, networking is often seen as a necessary but daunting task. It can be filled with anxiety and pressure, especially if you're not naturally outgoing or comfortable in large groups. However, if we shift our perspective on what networking truly is, we can transform it from an intimidating chore into a fulfilling and productive process.

The Power of Relational Networking

Good networking isn't about a series of one-off transactions; it's about relationships. It's about building a group of allies who can support you, provide guidance, and potentially lead to job opportunities. So why do so many people find networking stressful? It's largely because they're viewing it as a transaction rather than a relationship.

Laurie McGinley, a renowned networking expert, recently joined us for a webinar and shared her insights on how to make networking work for you. Her main advice is simple yet profound: do things that make you comfortable. If the idea of attending a large networking event terrifies you, opt for one-on-one situations instead. There's no rule that says you must attend every event or meet every person in your industry. Make networking fun by focusing on topics and activities that genuinely interest you.

The Importance of Strategic Networking

Networking is more than just a buzzword; it's a crucial part of any successful career path. Some estimates suggest that up to 70% of jobs are filled through connections, not traditional job postings. This means that having a strong network can significantly increase your chances of landing your dream job.

To build such a network, start by identifying your niche and investigating companies that align with your values and career goals. This isn't about blindly scouting for job openings, but finding companies where you believe you could be a valuable addition and thrive professionally. We wrote an entire blog diving deep into accessing this “hidden job market” - check it out here to learn how to master this step.

An effective strategy is to seek out potential mentors within your chosen industry. These individuals could be a few years ahead of you in their careers or already in your dream job. Reach out to them, express your admiration for their work, and ask if they'd be willing to share their insights and experiences with you. Having a mentor can significantly enhance your professional development and job search. Both Work on Climate and MCJ Collective’s slack communities are excellent place to find potential mentors. Women in Climate and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability both have mentorship programs to make it easier to find someone!

Mastering the Conversation

Networking is essentially about having meaningful conversations. When you initiate a conversation, you must take the lead. Come prepared with insightful questions about the other person's experiences and learnings. Be an active listener and show genuine interest in what they have to say. Offer to help them in any way you can, whether it's by sharing resources or introducing them to someone else in your network.

The Art of Relationship Maintenance

Once you've established a connection, it's important to maintain and nurture that relationship. A simple thank-you note after your conversation can go a long way in showing your appreciation. Be sincere in your communications and offer solutions to their problems whenever possible. Keep the relationship alive by sending relevant resources and catching up with them regularly.

The Importance of Systematic Networking

To ensure your networking efforts are effective and organized, consider establishing a system. Set specific networking goals for yourself, create outreach lists, and consistently refer back to them. Document your networking conversations, outlining what you learned, what you offered, what you promised, and the outcome. This will not only help you keep track of your progress but also make follow-ups easier.

We're excited to announce that Michael Melcher, author of "Your Invisible Network: How to Create, Maintain, and Leverage the Relationships That Will Transform Your Career" (BenBella 2023), will be joining us for our "Monthly Climate Career Accelerator" meetup on December 13th. He'll be discussing effective networking strategies and providing valuable insights based on his extensive experience. You can register for the event here: Registration Link

All in all, networking is about building relationships, not transactions. By focusing on your interests and comfort level, reaching out to potential mentors, leading conversations, maintaining relationships, and being organized, you can make networking work for you and pave the way for a successful career.

→ Natalie and Brendan went live on LinkedIn yesterday to answer climate job search questions. Check out the recording. We are also going live next Thursday 12/7 at 3 PM EST - Join us for an open Q&A session!

→ Climate People and MCJ’s monthly “Climate Career Accelerator” meetup is coming up on 12/13 at 12 pm EST. We’re thrilled to host networking expert and author of “Your Invisible Network,” Michael Melcher. Register for the session here.

→ Have you gotten your hands on a copy of our newly released Climate Job Seeker Playbook? It’s a 30-page guide that will help you best position yourself and increase your chances of landing a job in climate. Check it out!

→ Missed last week’s edition? It was a jam-packed one! Check it out here.

→ Natalie will be speaking on a careers panel with OnePointFive on 12/15. Interested in attending similar events? Learn more about their upcoming cohorts here.

→ Earlier this month we hosted a Climate Job Search playbook webinar! Check out the recording.

→ Looking to pinpoint which climate solutions interest you? Project Drawdown has a library of solutions! We also put together a 1-Minute Climate Snippet every week that breaks down various climate innovations.

AI WEATHER FORECASTING

AI-based weather prediction is revolutionizing the renewable energy industry. Traditional weather forecasting models, while useful, are often slow, expensive, and lack the degree of accuracy required for the efficient operation of renewable energy sources like wind and solar farms. AI models, which utilize pattern recognition in existing data, offer a solution to these issues, providing accurate forecasts in seconds. This speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness make them an invaluable tool in the renewable energy sector.

Examples of this application include Open Climate Fix's collaboration with National Grid to improve solar forecast accuracy and Salient Predictions' use of novel data and machine learning to provide highly accurate weather forecasts. These advances in AI-based weather forecasting potentially make renewable energy sources more reliable and cost-effective. Accurate forecasts allow for the efficient utilization of renewable resources, reduce reliance on backup fossil fuel plants, and pave the way for smart grids that manage energy consumption in real-time.

🪴 HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
➵ Our client, a global consultancy that helps companies secure large-scale grant funding for high-impact, climate-related ventures, is looking for a Business Development leader. The company has found its product-market fit and is in a phase of accelerating growth. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing sales strategies, maintaining the sales pipeline, collaborating with business operations for performance improvements, and supporting business development initiatives. The candidate should have a 'builder' mentality, be analytically inclined, and possess innovative problem-solving abilities. They must have 4+ years of consultative sales experience, 2+ years in a closing role for $20k-100k deal sizes, and 1+ years of people management experience.

🪴 FUNDING RESEARCH LEAD
➵ A global consultancy firm is seeking a Funding Research Lead with at least 3 years of experience in grants identification, writing, and management. The candidate will be responsible for the initial stages of the grants lifecycle, including identifying and assessing funding opportunities. They will also lead the Funding Ecosystem Map process, manage the work of Funding Research Analysts, handle client relationships during individual projects, and assist in developing policies to streamline the Ecosystem Mapping process. The ideal candidate should have a technical or scientific background in climate, energy, or life sciences, with experience in the private sector and international grants. Excellent attention to detail, writing, communication, organization, and execution skills are required.

🪴 TECHNICAL PRODUCT MANAGER
➵ We're partnering with a successful, remote climate tech startup that's developed a software platform for renewable energy projects. We need a Technical Product Manager to lead new product development, work directly with users, and ideate features. You'll collaborate with the CTO on new features and product plans, launch new market features, and build MVPs for new products. Ideal candidates should have 2+ years experience in technical SaaS products, be product-minded, comfortable in ambiguity, and possess skills in Figma, Agile, product research, prototyping, UX, A/B Testing, and Data Analysis. Experience in the utility industry is a plus.

🪴 FULL STACK ENGINEER - FRONT END LEANING
➵ We're seeking a remote Full-Stack Engineer to lead new product initiatives. This role involves user interaction, feature ideation, design feedback, and hands-on development. You'll work directly with the CTO on projects like launching new features in US markets and building MVPs for potential expansions. Ideal candidates have 2+ years of product-oriented software engineering experience and proficiency in React, TypeScript, and Python. Experience in the utility industry is a plus.

🪴 CONTENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
➵ Our client is championing the fight against climate change by quantifying greenhouse gas gains and losses related to land management. Their groundbreaking GHG data-model integration software is a game-changer for investors, policymakers, advocates, climate scientists, and land managers in the FALU sector. In this role, you'll spearhead integrated marketing plans, conduct market research, manage website content, create press releases, and organize industry events. If you have 5+ years of experience in marketing content and social media, a passion for climate and sustainability, a self-starter attitude, and a knack for simplifying complex information, this could be your opportunity to join a trust-based team committed to making a real impact.

🪴 SALES DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE
➵ Our client, a leading global technology and climate impact organization, is seeking a talented individual to join their team. Specializing in quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) gains and losses related to land management, they provide GHG data-model integration software that is used by various stakeholders in the FALU sector. The candidate will work with the Head of Business Development to formulate strategies that identify and convert prospects. This includes being the first point of contact, overseeing customer development, building pipelines across key segments, and experimenting with outbound strategies. The ideal candidate should have 1-3+ years of experience in sales or sales development, a passion for climate and sustainability, and the ability to take extreme ownership of customer's first impressions. They should be diligent, focused, adaptable, and bring a growth mindset every day.

That's all for this edition! Stay tuned for next month's roundup. Thanks for doing your part in mobilizing a workforce transition to work on climate!