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You Will Find Your Next Job Through Your Network, with Nikki Schutte

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Networking is one of the most effective ways to find your next job. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Nikki Schutte, most opportunities don’t come from job boards — they come through people you know and the connections they can introduce you to. Referrals won’t guarantee you a job, but they often get your application noticed and can lead to interviews you might not get otherwise.

In this episode, Nikki explains why employers value personal connections, how professional associations can help you grow your network, and why showing up in person makes such a difference. She also shares practical tips for job seekers who feel hesitant about networking, from starting small at local events to focusing on authentic conversations. By building relationships over time, you’ll uncover hidden opportunities and make your job search far more effective.

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Transcript

Find Your Dream Job, Episode 524:

You Will Find Your Next Job Through Your Network, with Nikki Schutte

Airdate: October 22, 2025

Mac Prichard:

This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.

I’m your host, Mac Prichard. I’m also the founder of Mac’s List. It’s a job board in the Pacific Northwest that helps you find a fulfilling career.

Every Wednesday, I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want.

Hiring managers care about connections. A referral alone won’t get you a job, but it can get a recruiter to pull your application from a tall stack of resumes and get you a first interview.

Nikki Schutte is here to talk about why you will find your next job through your network.

She’s the executive director of the Portland Human Resources Management Association. Her organization serves human resources professionals at all levels and functions.

Nikki joins us from Oregon City, Oregon.

Well, Nikki, we’re talking today about why your next job will come through your network. Why does a network matter so much when you’re looking for work?

Nikki Schutte:

So you’re not going to find your next job just by looking on LinkedIn or by applying for roles. It’s most likely going to come from your network.

It’s most likely going to come from somebody that you know five, six degrees away from you. And it’s important that we focus on not just the online stuff, but also the network part.

Mac Prichard:

So you’re the executive director of a local chapter of human resources professionals and HR people do a lot of things, but hiring is a huge part of the job for many people who have that do this work.

Why do HR directors care about networks when they’re making hiring decisions?

Nikki Schutte:

I think it’s because we want to make sure that the role that we fill is a good fit for the culture within the organization, right? It’s really hard to get to know somebody through a first interview or even a second or third interview.

And I think that we all want to rely on things that help us make the right decision and not just the interview, not just the resume, but perhaps another interaction that somebody might have had with that person.

Mac Prichard:

We all have a network, of course, but many of us might struggle with asking our contacts for help. In your experience, what stops job seekers from using their networks to find their next job?

Nikki Schutte:

I think it’s scary. I think that it’s hard to ask for help. I think most people struggle with that. I think it feels self-serving to say, “Hey, I need help,” or “Hey, can you help me out with this?”

So I think that’s probably a big part of it. But I do think that people are willing to help as long as you ask for it.

Mac Prichard:

And again, you talk to HR directors all day long, and they expect to hear from their networks when they’re doing hiring, don’t they, Nikki?

Nikki Schutte:

Yeah, think HR directors or HR professionals, recruiters, all of them want to hear from people, want to talk to people, want to help people out.

And I think that, again, it gives them one more reason why they should continue to build their own network so that they can continue to fill positions. They continue to be that mentor. Perhaps they don’t have a role, but again, it’s a network that’s growing and perhaps they can help connect you through somebody else that they know.

Mac Prichard:

And if you feel that you don’t have a strong network, where do you recommend getting started? Cause again, you’re all about building connections at your chapter.

And, when you think about members who might feel that they’re not well connected, the ones who do get well connected, what are they doing? Nikki.

Nikki Schutte:

Yeah, I think the best way to get connected, the easiest way in my opinion, is to find your professional group. So whatever profession you are in, you probably have a professional association of some sort that you can get connected with.

And hopefully you have some local people within that professional network as well that you can go to. There are so many things that your professional group, your professional network, can provide you.

Confidence, education, and finding a mentor are all things that we don’t think we need until we actually start this work of trying to find a job. And then we’re like, yeah, I guess I need some of those things. Or I haven’t interviewed in 10 years, and I don’t know what to do. So I think finding your professional group is the first place to start.

Mac Prichard:

So you look online, you find the local chapter, the professional group for your occupation. What do you do next? Are you going to chapter lunches, an annual conference? And when you do attend events, how do you make the most of them in a way that’s going to help you grow your network and help you find your next job?

Nikki Schutte:

In my experience, I think that there are a couple kinds of events and it kind of depends on what you want to attend. I will say that it’s really hard, especially in this post-COVID era, to sometimes get out of our house.

And I like to say putting on hard pants and leaving, right? We’re comfortable in our sweats and we want to stay home with our families. But I will say that every single time I feel that way and I go to an event, I’m always happy that I put myself out there and that I went.

And I think that is really the biggest thing is find something that’s interesting to you and just put yourself out there. Put on those hard pants and walk out the door and go to the event.

I think there’s gonna be a lot of networking events. There probably are going to be some educational events. Maybe there’s a conference that we know is gonna be a larger audience.

So it really kind of depends on what you, as a person, are comfortable with and what you’re willing to put yourself out there with. I think starting with a smaller group is probably gonna be better. You’re gonna be able to build more interactions and more connections in a smaller setting, but it really is up to you.

Mac Prichard:

So you go to an event, how do you, just in terms of managing expectations, how do you know it’s successful?

You’re obviously not going to walk away with a job offer, but what do you see the people who network well in your professional association do in ways that benefit their career and help their job search?

Nikki Schutte:

A couple of different things. First of all, I recommend that you enjoy yourself. Yes, if you walk away and you’re not like, gosh, that was great, that’s not a great indication that this was a success for you, right?

If you have one great conversation, if you introduce yourself to one person and you find some connection within that conversation, then I think it was a success, right?

I think what you want to try to do in building your network and building your community is connecting with somebody who you can continue to see at those professional meetups within that professional association, so that you can continue to have those conversations and continue to build on that relationship.

And maybe even you’re going to find somebody that you already know at that association, right? If you’ve been in a field for a while, then perhaps you’re going to run into an old colleague, and they can help connect you with other people.

Mac Prichard:

So it’s a long game, isn’t it, Nikki?

Nikki Schutte:

It is, it is, it’s not gonna happen overnight. It’s not gonna happen the first time you meet somebody. And it’s probably not gonna happen the fifth time that you meet somebody, which is why it’s important to keep attending, keep putting yourself out there and really keep building that group of people that you know.

Mac Prichard:

Talk more, Nikki, about the benefits you’ve seen of this long-term networking. You go to the chapter meetings, the lunch, the happy hour, and you meet people, you renew connections. But how does that help you when it comes time to do your job search compared to somebody who has never gone to, hasn’t invested in their network?

Nikki Schutte:

Right? I cannot count how many times I’ve heard from somebody that I found my next job through my network, through my community, through PHRMA, through my professional association.

And I think part of why that is, is because being around people who are the same as you and/or are different, really just being around people, helps you gain confidence in understanding what you want and what is important. And I think that’s the advantage, right?

Somebody who’s just working online or just doing LinkedIn stuff, there’s not that human connection, which I think is really, really important, especially now, especially now that we’re sort of back to, I keep saying back to work, but now that we’re back in the offices and back sort of living our lives, it’s important to have those human connections because that’s what’s where the sweet spot is, right?

That’s where the bread and butter is, and where people are really going to learn who you are, and you’re gonna learn a little bit more about yourself.

Mac Prichard:

We’re going to take a break. Stay with us when we come back. Nikki Schutte will continue to share her advice on why you’ll find your next job through your network.

We’re back in the Mac’s List Studio, I’m talking with Nikki Schutte. She’s the executive director of the Portland Human Resources Management Association.

Her organization serves human resources professionals at all levels and functions.

And Nikki joins us from Oregon City, Oregon.

Now, Nikki, before the break, we were talking about why you will find your next job through your network.

And you talked about the benefits of a network, the role that, the value that hiring managers, particularly in the HR profession, place on networks and their openness to hearing from their contacts and their networks.

When I return to a point you touched on in the first segment, which is that you can’t rely on your online presence alone, especially LinkedIn, to find your next job.

Why is that, Nikki? Why can’t you just send out applications and comment on LinkedIn posts and network that way?

Nikki Schutte:

Because there are a million people doing the same thing, right?

You need to make yourself stand out in some way and being in front of people, figuring out how to be in front of people, usually by networking, by trying to find them in person at events or local events is the way to help make yourself stand out and make yourself look different because there needs to be something that draws your application to that person.

And having met them in a casual environment is a great way to do that.

Mac Prichard:

And why do hiring managers and recruiters place so much value on that personal connection? And again, you touched on this in the first segment. You can’t rely on just interviews alone. What’s going on there, Nikki?

Nikki Schutte:

I think that, again, we’re human beings, and I think we’re all looking for some sort of connection. We’re all looking to make sure that everything is a good fit. Hiring somebody costs an organization a lot of money, right? So we need to make sure that whoever is the candidate that we are going with is the right fit. And it’s hard to do that in interviews.

And I think that we need to put some more value on those other ways of connecting, other ways of standing out, other ways of showing who you are, that’s not in a scary interview situation where everybody’s nervous and, my gosh, did I say that right? That’s not really who you are, right? And we need to showcase who you are in a different environment.

Mac Prichard:

Sometimes I talk to candidates who wince when they hear an employer say, “It wasn’t a good fit.” What advice would you give applicants who are trying to find employers who offer a good fit and for whom they would be a good fit? What have you seen be effective?

Nikki Schutte:

Research serves a purpose, and it can help you find the culture, find an environment, and find an organization that you connect with. Now, just seeing their values on their website when you go to their about us section might not provide actual insight.

So that’s where the next step comes in of finding somebody on LinkedIn, trying to connect with them, finding a professional organization that perhaps that person belongs to or an industry-specific organization, and going to those events and trying to meet people in person.

You can also request and try to ask people for informational interviews on LinkedIn, or even just, “Hey, I would love to meet you for coffee. Can I come to your office?” People love to have those conversations. And again, it’s a great way to make those connections and find an in in an organization that you might want to work with.

Mac Prichard:

And to do this effectively, you really have to have a sense of where you want to go because the internet is a vast place, isn’t it, Nikki? There are so many places you could work.

Talk about the importance of knowing what, of having a list of target employers so that you can network effectively.

Nikki Schutte:

I have a couple of suggestions. First, if you want to stay in the same industry, in the same sort of position. So, for example, if I wanted to stay in HR, then I would be looking for organizations that do HR really well.

I would be looking at the Portland Business Journal, and I would be looking at who are the top people who are doing HR really well. And I would go to their websites and I would try to find, this could be a fit. Also, it’s important for you to do your own research on the C-suite of those organizations, right? Go and find them on LinkedIn and read what they’re talking about, read what’s important to them.

So that helps you, helps give you a little bit more insight into how the organization actually runs. And of course, Glassdoor is a great way to also learn about the culture and learn about really what happens sort of behind closed doors.

Mac Prichard:

So less is more, narrow your focus so that you can network effectively. We’ve talked a lot about the value of professional groups, but I know that you encourage people not to limit their networking to professional groups alone. Why is it important to network in different kinds of places?

Nikki Schutte:

The point of networking is showcasing who you are as a person, right? And in order to do that, you have to be in a place that’s comfortable to you. So find something that interests you. If I like to do crafts, maybe I’m gonna find some sort of crafting place to hang out and take a class or something, right?

Now, is that the place that I could find my HR role? Not necessarily, but if you’re able to make a connection there with somebody, that is one more person that you can connect with on LinkedIn that you can say, “Hey, I’m looking for my next role.”

And maybe they know somebody, maybe they are in the target audience that you’re looking for. So I think it’s important to be in an element that you’re comfortable with doing something that you like to do so that you find a person that is doing something similar.

And that’s a really easy way to start building a connection right away. You already have something in common with them.

Mac Prichard:

Many applicants think if I could only get in front of the HR director, in front of her or him, that would make a huge difference. But I also know, just as you encourage people to network outside of their professional groups, you also suggest that people network with people outside the HR department. What do you have in mind there, and why is that important?

Nikki Schutte:

You want to hear from the employees what their experience is. You want to talk to people who are doing your actual job or perhaps it’s your dream job, right? Perhaps it’s the job that you are striving for and you think you’re ready.

You want to talk to them and you want to learn from them what they do, what their day-to-day is like, what they think about the organization, would they stay there? You know, if they could go somewhere else, would they go somewhere else? Right?

You want to have all of those options so that you really feel like you’re comfortable in that particular environment, or perhaps you learn something about the role that you didn’t know, and that turns you off, and you’re like, gosh, nope, don’t, that’s not what I want.

So I think there are a variety of reasons why you should network with other people. Also, to the HR director, as much as they love to network with you, they also want to make sure that you’re actually ready for this role. And I think talking to other people and building up those potential recommendations is also a really good way to move forward.

Mac Prichard:

What value do HR directors and other hiring managers place on a referral from a fellow employee inside an organization who might have met a candidate if the person gets a text or an email that says, “You should talk to so-and-so?” Is that valuable?

Nikki Schutte:

I think so, absolutely, right? That’s kind of what we’re talking about. We’re talking about getting your next job five, six, seven degrees away from you, right? It’s not gonna be your husband that gets you your job or your significant other or your best friend. It’s gonna be somebody that they know five people down the line.

And those referrals, those are coming from employees who are doing a great job, who are great fits, and they know what the culture is. So it’s almost like they’ve gone through like a first interview or a first initial meeting, right? And they already feel like they’re a good fit for the role.

Mac Prichard:

What about jobs that are never posted? There are widely different estimates out there about the number of positions, but how can your network help you find and get those positions?

Nikki Schutte:

HR directors are working a lot on strategy for organizations. They know a lot about what’s going on in the organization, what’s to come. So sometimes roles aren’t posted yet because things haven’t actually gone through the process. The position hasn’t been approved. Perhaps we’re waiting for the next fiscal year to start, which is in X number of months.

So they have some inside scoop on what’s to come. And I think that it’s the networking. I feel like I keep saying this, but it is the community. It is who you know, and it is who they know. And that’s what’s going to help drive you and help get you those positions that aren’t quite posted yet.

Mac Prichard:

It’s been a terrific conversation, Nikki. Now tell us what’s next for you.

Nikki Schutte:

I am going to continue to make an impact on the HR community through PHRMA. We are really striving to help make organizations better and really provide a support system for HR professionals so they know they’re not doing this profession alone.

Mac Prichard:

We know that our audience can learn more about you and your work at PHRMA by connecting with you on LinkedIn.

When you do reach out to Nikki there, mention you heard her and saw her on Find Your Dream Job.

You also recommend people visit the PHRMA website, and we’ll include a URL to the website in the show notes.

Now, Nikki, given all the great advice you’ve shared today, what’s the one thing you want our audience to remember about why you will find your next job through your network?

Nikki Schutte:

It’s not just who you know, it’s who they know. That’s what’s going to help you find your next job.

Mac Prichard:

Next week, our guest will be Tonjala Eaton.

She’s a career coach who helps her clients move into new careers.

Whether you know it or not, you have a personal brand.

And it can help – or hurt you – when you look for work.

Join us next Wednesday when Tonjala Eaton and I talk about how to use your personal brand in your job search.

Until next time, thanks for letting us help you find your dream job.

This show is produced by Mac’s List.

Susan Thornton-Hough schedules our guests and writes our newsletter. Lisa Kislingbury Anderson manages our social media and creates our transcripts.

Our sound engineer and editor is Matt Fiorillo. And our music is by Freddy Trujillo.

This is Mac Prichard. See you next week.

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