How to Connect With the People Who Have Your Dream Job

Networking has always been one of the most powerful tools for career growth, but today it doesn’t require conferences or in-person meetups. Thanks to LinkedIn, you can connect with people all over the world, learn directly from their experiences, and start building relationships that could shape your future. These tips could also be applied to DMing somebody on social media, emailing them, or networking face to face though.

If you’re dreaming of breaking into a new field or taking the next step in your current one, virtual networking can help open doors. Here’s how to do it in a way that feels real and approachable.

1. Start With Your Goals

Before you reach out to anyone, get clear on what you’re hoping to learn. Ask yourself:

• What career path excites me most right now?
• Do I want to understand the day-to-day of a role, the skills I need, or how people usually get started?
• Am I looking for advice, mentorship, or just to meet others in the field?

Knowing this will help guide your conversations.

2. Write Down Your Questions

Make a list of 20 questions you’d love to ask someone in your dream job. These could be things like:

• What does a typical day look like in your role?
• What skills or certifications helped you the most?
• How did you land your first opportunity in the field?
• What’s the biggest challenge in your job?
• What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

Then, instead of sending all 20 to one person, pick one question and send it to one or two people at a time. This makes it easier for them to reply and helps you start more conversations.

3. Polish Your LinkedIn Profile

Your profile is your digital first impression. Add a clear photo, write a headline that reflects where you want to go, and update your “About” section with a few sentences about your interests and goals. Even if you don’t have direct experience yet, highlight projects, classes, or skills that show your interest in the field.

Think about this: if someone looks at your profile after you connect, will they understand what excites you and where you want to go?

4. Introduce Yourself the Right Way

When you reach out, be clear and keep it short. Say who you are, why you’re reaching out, and what you’re hoping to learn. LinkedIn only gives you 300 characters in a connection request, so you don’t have space for your life story.

Example LinkedIn Messages

Connection Request:
“Hi [Name], I’m exploring a career in [field] and admire your path. I’d love to connect and ask you a quick question about how you got started.”

Follow-Up Message (after they accept):
“Thanks for connecting, [Name]. I’m curious about your journey into [role/field]. Would you be open to answering a quick question: What helped you most when you first started in this field?”

5. Decide What to Ask For

Once you’ve connected, you have two good options. You can ask a quick question in writing, or you can ask for a short Zoom call or coffee chat.

If you’re just starting out, it’s usually best to start small. Send a single question first. If the person responds and seems open, you can follow up later with something like:

“Thanks so much for your reply, it was really helpful. If you have 15 minutes sometime, I’d love to jump on Zoom or grab a coffee (if you’re local) to hear more about your career journey. Totally understand if your schedule is too busy.”

6. Focus on Building Relationships

Networking isn’t about collecting contacts. It’s about building real relationships. After an initial chat, you can keep in touch by thanking them for their time, sharing an article they might find interesting, or commenting thoughtfully on their LinkedIn posts.

Stay-in-Touch Example:
“Hi [Name], I really appreciated your advice about [topic]. I came across this article on [related subject] and thought you might enjoy it. Thanks again for your time, it’s been super helpful.”

Small gestures like this keep the relationship warm without feeling forced, and can lead to future opportunities, advice, or even job recommendations/suggestions.

7. Remember to Give Back

Even if you’re new to your career, you still have something to offer. Maybe it’s sharing your perspective as someone just starting out, recommending tools or resources you’ve found, or even introducing someone from your own network. The best networking is a two-way street.

8. Be Consistent and Patient

A strong network takes time. Try setting a goal to reach out to two or three people a week and engage on LinkedIn regularly. Relationships build slowly, so don’t get discouraged if not everyone replies right away.

Final Thoughts

Virtual networking can feel awkward at first, but it gets easier with practice. Most professionals remember what it was like to be in your shoes and will be glad to share their story. Approach it with curiosity and authenticity, and over time you’ll build a network that helps you grow into your dream career.

Find more LinkedIn and Virtual Networking tips here: Virtual Networking: A Beginner’s Guide (Creative Access)

How to Find Your Niche and Write an Elevator Pitch as a Freelancer

Starting out as a freelancer can feel overwhelming—especially when people ask, “So, what exactly do you do?” If you’re not sure how to answer that yet, don’t worry. You’re not alone.

Hopefully this article will help you:

• Figure out your creative niche (what you’re good at and what sets you apart from the competition)
• Write a short, confident elevator pitch you can use anywhere

What’s a Niche, and Why Do You Need One?

Your niche is your creative focus. It’s a combination of the type of work you do (e.g. being a photographer) and the kind of people or clients you want to work with (e.g. specialising in theatre or live music photography).

Having a niche helps because:

• It makes it easier to explain what you do
• Clients know if you’re the right fit for their project and have a portfolio of past similar projects (which helps them to trust you and gives them confidence in your ability)
• You stand out more (instead of being a general “creative”) and gain a reputation

Find Your Niche

You don’t have to choose your forever niche; you can always change (and your skills developed will transfer), but for now just pick a direction to start with.

Ask Yourself:

• What type of creative work do I enjoy most?
  (Designing? Writing? Photography? Music?)
• What kind of people or businesses would I like to work with?
  (Fashion brands? Local cafes? Nonprofits? Artists?)
• What do people often ask me for help with?
  (Logos? Social media? Editing? Animation?)

Example Niches:

• Logo design for small businesses
• TikTok videos (content creation) for musicians
• Product photography for handmade brands
• Design work for sports brands
• Illustrations for childrens books

Choose something that feels fun, doable, and in demand. You can always shift later.

Write Your Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a one or two-sentence introduction about who you are and what you do. It’s called that because you should be able to say it in the time it takes to introduce yourself to somebody who got into a lift with you, before they reach their floor and get off.

Simple Formula:

“I do [type of work] for [type of client] so they can [benefit].”

Examples:

• “I make short videos for small brands to help them stand out on TikTok.”
• “I design logos for new businesses so they look professional.”
• “I illustrate fun characters for kids’ books that bring stories to life.”

Tips:

• Use clear, everyday language
• Focus on who you help and how
• Keep it short and friendly

What to Do Next

Now that you’ve got a niche and a pitch:

• Add your pitch to your social bios, website, or email signature
• Use it when you introduce yourself to potential clients or collaborators
• Keep tweaking it as you grow and get clearer on what you love doing
• Keep an open mind and explore other options that your specialism might unlock. Stay curious and say yes to opportunities, even if they don’t seem like a 100% fit.
• Find out how to put your pitch into practice at a networking event

You don’t have to have everything figured out to start. The most important thing is to try things, learn what you like, and talk about your work in a way that feels real and confident. Your niche and pitch will evolve with you.