Getting in the Room

Whether you’re switching industries, pursuing an unconventional path, or just trying to level up in your current role, getting noticed — and staying in the game — can feel daunting. What we know to be true, though, is that the best way to get in a room is to be the candidate prepared to meaningfully contribute. Period.

This guide isn’t a list of platitudes — it’s hard-won advice for building momentum when the path isn’t obvious and the odds don’t feel stacked in your favor. In other words, it’s for anyone trying to break in, grow fast, or find traction.

NETWORKS & INVITATIONS

Start by appreciating how much you have to learn from others’ experiences and expertise; that means asking questions and making requests, especially starting out. To that end, make the first move. Prepare and thoughtfully reach out to people you admire. Ask good questions. Don’t wait for a formal invitation — create your own momentum.

Approach these interactions with context and with an objective: Who are you talking to and why? What are you hoping to get out of this meeting? What is your measure of a successful meeting? That means, in essence, do your homework. If you're going to ask for someone’s time, show them you value it. Reference their work. Be specific. Know what your ask is.

Then, as you build these connections, treat them as budding long-term relationships rather than one-off conversations. Building stronger bonds may mean fewer absolute outreaches (remember that thoughtful patience pays off), but a deeper understanding of individual perspectives and the ability to learn over time from a range of experiences. Also, a well-earned and dependable network has never hurt someone’s career. 

You will miss 100% of the conversations you don’t initiate. A single conversation or connection may not lead to a position (and rejection is also feedback — and part of reality). Heck, the email reply may be a simple, “Sorry, I don’t have time.” But opportunities don’t always come labeled. That means that you should apply to opportunities that interest you even if you’re not a perfect fit. Growth happens between what you know and what you’re willing to learn. If you can close the gap fast, you're worth a shot.

UNCERTAIN CAREER PATH

Careers are rarely as linear as they look from the outside. Most of us zigzag and meander until a productive pattern emerges (not necessarily a satisfying progression for friends and family to watch). Even more traditional, and traditionally stable, career ladders may take a maddeningly long time to figure out. What matters, though, is whether you're stacking experiences that make you sharper. 

In that vein, you may want to embrace the weird roles. Being the utility player often teaches you more than climbing a rigid ladder. You’re looking for the shared currency between where you are now and where you want to go. Note that that foundation can help alleviate the anxiety around early career ambiguity that may not provide affirmation in title or compensation.

And, if you embrace the weird route to get into the room and start to doubt your path, remember to stay curious. “I want to figure this out” is a better compass than “I need to look impressive.”

UNLIMITED UPSIDE

Once you start to develop opinions and make yourself available to participate, the good news is that there are multiple pathways to the best seat for you. What’s important is recognizing that opportunities compound. The best stuff often goes to people who were ready when the door cracked open. And being ready means focusing on skill, not status. Titles can come and go (and may mean wildly different things at different companies, in different industries, and across different scales). Capabilities are what unlock new levels. Having no defined route should translate into being resourceful and opportunistic to find what suits you best.

But there is a difference between being opportunistic and being impatient. Expect progression to take a while — and love the reps. Mastery comes from doing it again and again — especially when no one’s watching — and soaking everything in along the way. Continue to embrace the curiosity and opportunism that led you to build and sustain a network, chart an unexpected path, and compound your experiences and opportunities along the way. 

Building a career is like training for anything. You’re constantly consuming information, testing your own ideas, and generally getting in shape to take advantage when an opportunity knocks. There may be thousands of reps before something clicks, and you have to be okay with that. But if you can enjoy the training as well as the high stakes moments, over time, people will bet on you for bigger things. Because, ultimately, trust is your edge. 

There’s no formula to getting a foot in the door. But there are patterns. People who show up prepared, take smart risks, and, frankly, keep going tend to get where they want to go — even if the path is messy.