Many of us are taught to believe that career opportunities arrive neatly packaged: a job title, a posting, an application portal. But what if the roles that would allow us to make the greatest impact aren’t listed anywherebecause they haven’t yet been imagined?
The traditional “candidate mindset” is rooted in waiting. Waiting for postings, waiting for calls, waiting for approval. In contrast, the professionals who are shaping the future of work are not passively waiting to be discovered—they are identifying unmet needs, connecting dots across silos, and positioning themselves as the person who can deliver a solution.
This doesn’t mean disregarding formal processes, but it does mean approaching organizations the way a consultant would: by asking, Where is there an unaddressed problem? Where is there value being left on the table?
This shift in mindset is inseparable from the practice of networking. Too often, networking is misunderstood as transactional,about getting a job lead or making an immediate ask. In reality, the most powerful networking moments come from curiosity and genuine dialogue.
Just last week, a casual conversation illustrated this perfectly. What began as a simple exchange unexpectedly revealed a need I could uniquely address. It wasn’t something I had been actively pursuing, and in fact, it was a path I had never even considered. Yet, by listening attentively and sharing insights, a door opened into an area I had not thought to explore—one that aligned beautifully with what I bring to the table.
Moments like these remind us that networking is not just about being known. It is about being positioned as someone who can solve problems, even those that haven’t been fully articulated.
Adopting this mindset requires three important shifts:
- From titles to outcomes. Instead of asking, “What jobs are available?” ask, “What results are organizations struggling to achieve, and how could I help deliver them?”
- From self-promotion to value creation. Rather than centering the conversation on your résumé or aspirations, center it on the challenges the other person or organization is facing.
- From waiting to initiating. Don’t wait for permission to demonstrate your value. Share insights, sketch possibilities, or even pilot solutions that showcase the difference you can make.
These shifts don’t just position you as a candidate, they position you as a partner.
Not every proposal or conversation will result in an immediate opportunity. Some organizations won’t be ready, or they may not recognize the need just yet. But planting those seeds is rarely wasted effort. Over time, industries evolve, priorities shift, and leaders remember the professionals who came forward not just with skills, but with foresight.
The most meaningful roles are not always discovered. Sometimes, they are created. And the bridge between imagination and reality often begins with a single conversation.
So, the next time you enter a networking exchange, resist the urge to ask, “Are you hiring?” Instead, try, “What challenges are you facing right now?” You may be surprised at the doors that conversation can unlock, doors you didn’t even know existed.