After being laid off, Jane Doe sat alone at her kitchen table, the flickering jack-o’-lantern casting long shadows. She realized she hadn’t talked to anyone professionally in years. In fact, her LinkedIn profile was a digital graveyard of old coworkers and forgotten connections.
One eerie night, as she scrolled through names, a message notification appeared on an ancient post: “Still alive out there, Jane?” Goosebumps prickled her arms. Maybe it was a glitch. Or maybe a sign.
Heart racing, she started messaging old contacts. One by one, replies trickled in: friendly, warm, and alive. Then she stumbled upon Jenna, her old high school bandmate. On a whim, Jane sent: “Hey Jenna, it’s Jane. Been ages! How are you?”
Minutes later came the reply: “JANE!! So wild. I’m hiring a project manager! Let’s talk.”
Jane laughed out loud. The jack-o’-lantern’s grin suddenly shifted from creepy to comforting. The ghosts in her network hadn’t come to haunt her… they’d come to help her.
Moral of the story: Don’t let your network rest in peace. Reach out and you might just bring your career back to life.
Networking isn’t just for job hunters or extroverts; it’s the pulse that keeps every career alive. If yours has gone a little cold, don’t panic. We’ve got the resurrection plan you need.
Let’s be honest, most networks don’t die in some tragic accident. They just quietly fade, like your motivation after a three-hour Zoom call.
People change jobs, switch industries, have kids, move cities, or just vanish into the mist of “We should totally catch up sometime.” Before you know it, your once-thriving web of contacts is a dusty crypt of forgotten introductions.
But here’s the twist: A dead network can rise again. You just have to be brave enough to knock on a few coffins. Networking isn’t necromancy, but it’s close. And done right, it’s less “scary séance” and more “friendly haunting.”
In fact, Gina Riley, Executive Career Coach and Author of Qualified Isn’t Enough, highlights that one of the most powerful ways to “reawaken your network” is to reconnect with dormant ties.
“These are the people you already know, who know and trust you, but who now live in different professional circles,” she says. “They’re your hidden allies, waiting for a friendly, ‘Hey, how have you been?’ to open new doors.”
So where do you even start if your network’s been six feet under for years?
Start with the people who shaped your path: your favorite professor, a first supervisor, an old coworker, even a teammate from a volunteer project.
Life gets busy, and those relationships often get buried under deadlines and burnout. But like CPR for your career, a few intentional check-ins can bring your network back to life. Once you send those first few messages, you’ll feel it — the faint heartbeat of your professional web returning.
Try these six practical steps from Bernadette Pawlick, Career Srrategist at Coffee & Consult:
Before you dig up everyone you’ve ever met, pause and ask why.
Are you early in your career, seeking mentors? Mid-career and ready to share expertise? Or actively job-hunting and hoping your next opportunity rises from your network’s ashes?
Each goal requires a different spell. Networking isn’t about collecting souls (or business cards); it’s about connecting with intention. As one Reddit user put it, “Networking isn’t about shaking hands or attending events. It’s about the working relationships you build day-to-day; those are the ones that last even when you move on.”
Skip the vague “pick your brain” DMs that make people cringe. Instead, lead with clarity: “I’m exploring new roles in digital strategy. Would you have ten minutes to share your perspective?”
That honesty builds instant credibility. “Be transparent about what you’re seeking; it’s refreshing, not risky,” says Riley.
If reaching out still makes you want to hide under a cape, take heart, networking expert Sarah Felice offers a simple, structured formula for every encounter:
“There’s a reason 70% of people get their jobs through their network," Felice reminds us. "People do business with those they know, like, and trust.”
In other words: real conversations > mass connection requests.
Riley shares a success story from one of her clients:
“One client found a job at a global gaming company not through a recruiter, but through a shared experience. He researched the hiring manager and discovered they’d both worked in Japan, and both were dads and football fans. He mentioned those touchpoints in his outreach.”
That small, human connection was the key that unlocked an interview, and eventually, an offer that beat out an internal candidate. Riley points out that rather than leading with his title or listing the technical skills on his résumé, the candidate focused on building a genuine relationship.
“By showing how he develops connections that move projects forward, he stood out as someone who could collaborate and contribute beyond the code, and that made all the difference,” she explains.
The take-home lesson here? Relationships move opportunities forward, not résumés.
Yes, you can make a fool of yourself while networking. “Don’t confuse your LinkedIn connections with your real network. You may have thousands, but how many do you actually know?” as Joachim Eeckhout put it.
Think of your network like a spiderweb: delicate, intentional, and best built slowly. Start small and strengthen over time.
Avoid Tom Etherington's networking event horror story:
Them: “So, what do you do?”
Etherington: “Content marketing! Need content? I offer packages — great value!”
Them: “Not right now, thanks.”
People don’t engage because you’re selling something they need. They engage because they trust you. Visibility, value, and conversation come before any “ask.”
And remember: always listen more than you talk. Everyone’s favorite topic is themselves. Let that be your secret weapon. Listen, ask smart questions, and let curiosity do the heavy lifting.
When networking in person, think of conversations in three acts:
Simple. Natural. No sales pitch required.
When you’re between jobs, it can feel like your career’s gone cold. But this is actually the perfect time to reanimate your network.
Dr. Tandra Price, aka The Networking "Ninja", offers five reminders to keep your network alive:
“Your network really is your net worth — especially when you’re between gigs,” reminds Price. “So tap into it, stay visible, and let your next big opportunity rise from the grave to find you.”
Now that your network is back among the living, you’ve got to keep it that way. Feed it scraps of attention before it decomposes again:
Networking isn’t a one-night séance. It’s an ongoing ritual. When you nurture your network year-round, you won’t have to resurrect it next time you’re in a pinch.
So light your metaphorical candle, open LinkedIn, and remember that the most successful professionals are the ones who keep their networks alive year-round.
And if you’re ready to turn all this haunting into hiring, consider connecting with us, the creative matchmakers, at Artisan Talent. Whether you’re looking for your next gig or trying to find that perfect creative spirit to join your team, we thrive in the space between opportunity and imagination. It’s the sweet spot where good connections never die.