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What role does networking play in career agency? · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

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  SPEAKER_00: It's easy to think of networking as something separate from actually doing your job well or even something a bit uncomfortable.
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  SPEAKER_00: But networking is really just building relationships that give you more choice and more information about your career, which is a big part of what agency actually looks like in practice.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now, one shift that helps here is seeing networking less as self-promotion and more as an exchange of perspective.
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  SPEAKER_00: So when you talk to people outside your immediate team, whether that's someone in a different department or a former colleague, you get access to ideas, feedback, and options you wouldn't have found by staying in your own lane.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now that outside view can be exactly what helps you spot a path forward when you're starting to feel stuck.
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  SPEAKER_00: It also helps to notice any discomfort around this and work with it rather than around it.
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  SPEAKER_00: So if reaching out to people feels awkward, starting small can make a real difference, like a short message, a coffee catch-up, or a question in a meeting rather than a big form or ask.
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  SPEAKER_00: As confidence in this area tends to build through repetition, not by waiting until it starts to feel easy.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now, a good starting point is picking one or two relationships to nurture with intention rather than trying to network broadly all at once.
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  SPEAKER_00: That might be a mentor, a colleague in another team, or someone you've lost touch with, and you can set a small regular habit around it like reaching out to one person a month and keeping the conversation genuine rather than transactional.
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  SPEAKER_00: It also helps let people around you know what you're working towards.
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  SPEAKER_00: So if your manager or a wider network understands your goals, they're in a much better position to flag opportunities or make introductions on your behalf.
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  SPEAKER_00: Now, if networking consistently feels overwhelming or if anxiety around these conversations holding you back, it can be worth speaking to a career coach or a mentor who can help you build a more comfortable approach.
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  SPEAKER_00: And if social anxiety or low confidence is affecting other areas of your life too, that's worth raising with a therapist.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: You can head back onto the app anytime for more support and resources on career uncertainty and change.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: If you are thinking about harming yourself or feeling unsafe, then please seek urgent help by contacting your local emoji number or a crisis helpline.