Follow Your Interests and Find Your People, with Leah Payne
Share
Networking doesn’t have to feel transactional or awkward. On this episode of Find Your Dream Job, career counselor Leah Payne shares why the best networking happens when you follow your interests. When you show up to events and communities that matter to you, you’ll meet people who care about the same things, and genuine connections will follow.
Leah walks through helpful strategies for connecting with your community: joining professional associations, using LinkedIn’s alumni search filters, and asking people in your network for referrals. In every conversation, she says to lead with curiosity, not an agenda. The relationships you build today may not pay off for months, but they can make a difference down the road.
About Our Guest:
- Leah Payne is a career counselor at Portland State University.
Resources in This Episode:
- Connect with Leah on LinkedIn.
Transcript
Find Your Dream Job, Episode 556:
Follow Your Interests and Find Your People, with Leah Payne
Airdate: June 17, 2026
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.
You may struggle with networking.
If this is a challenge for you, today’s guest says a good way to start is by focusing on what you enjoy.
Leah Payne joins us to talk about why you should follow your interests and find your people when you network.
She’s a career counselor at Portland State University who helps students and alumni with personal and professional development.
Leah joins us from Portland, Oregon.
Well, here’s where I want to start, Leah. Why should you network at all when you look for work?
Leah Payne:
Absolutely, it makes all the difference in the world, especially when it’s a tight job market, to either learn about opportunities or to have that personal referral. Oftentimes, that can make a difference between you and another candidate if somebody knows about you and can vouch for you.
That’s really what will get you hired versus another candidate, because of human nature, and it will also help you really identify and find a better fit for yourself, potentially, or job titles you never thought of.
Mac Prichard:
Okay. All right. So it helps you get referrals. It helps you get clear and find the best fit possible. I’m curious, Leah, you talk to employers a lot because you’re a career counselor at a university.
Why do employers say they put so much weight on referrals that come through networking?
Leah Payne:
Definitely. The only way they can judge applicants otherwise is through their materials, through that written form.
So that referral really helps kind of round out a person and builds that trust and that community because everybody’s trying to find their future colleagues as well, or people who are interested in the same things.
Mac Prichard:
And I know you recommend to the grads and students that you counsel to focus on networking when doing a job search. What would you say to somebody who’s just feeling overwhelmed?
There’s so much you could do when you look for work. Why do you recommend they emphasize networking?
Leah Payne:
I think it’s really important to vary the different job-seeking activities that you do. And I find that networking often breathes life into your job search. Like if you’re sitting at your computer just applying to jobs, looking for things in a more reactive kind of state, I think you can get more in a negative loop potentially.
So it’s important to see your friends, do things you enjoy, and then of course meet new people that way. And that often I think brings like a zest and an excitement back to the job search and reminds you why you’re doing it.
And so then those other things become easier if you’re in that kind of a state when you’re meeting other people and being excited and finding what actually is interesting to you.
Mac Prichard:
So it’s energizing, it’s growing your relationships and connections, and above all, networking can help you avoid that doom loop, can it? Yeah. So people often are working on their networking skills, so it’s not uncommon to make mistakes.
When you do see the people you work with make networking mistakes, what are some of the most common ones, Leah?
Leah Payne:
Not getting started at all, I think, is the biggest. I think a lot of folks think that it’s kind of icky, or they don’t want to sell themselves, or it just they don’t they don’t really understand it, or they feel like they don’t have time for it.
So I think if you remind yourself how to be genuine and sincere, if you actually look for things that you’re interested in and folks are doing work that’s interesting to you, that often kind of helps bypass that, maybe that imposter syndrome or that feeling like it’s fake or something. If you actually look into it, I care about this, and I’m gonna talk to people who are also interested in it, I’m gonna have a good time. I’m gonna have a much better time.
Mac Prichard:
I’m so glad you brought up the word icky because I think many people, when they think about networking, that’s what they worry they’re going to experience. So if you’re thinking about doing something that feels icky, you probably don’t have to do that, do you, when it comes to networking?
Leah Payne:
No, you don’t. And you’re in charge of those rules for yourself. So you can bring a friend to a networking event or a colleague. So sometimes that accountability, having an accountability partner, like some, sometimes like I might’ve put a networking event on my calendar, and I might’ve not gone because I didn’t have that accountability partner. So then I invited a colleague to go with me, and I was like, okay, we’re both going.
The other thing you can do is make the rule. Like, if I just want to talk to three people, and then I can leave. And that’s it. Or maybe you’re going to have, you’ll be surprised. You’re like, I talked to three people, and I’m still having a good time, and they introduced me to somebody else they know, then you might stay longer.
But you can determine those rules for yourself. There’s no like networking. I mean, of course, there are guidelines, but there’s no like, you must go to this, and you must do it this way. Like you’re in charge of that. I think people don’t realize that.
Mac Prichard:
So look for ways to make yourself feel comfortable and then set manageable, achievable goals so you can declare a victory at the end of the event or whatever the experience might be.
So we’re getting into how to network, and I’m so glad we are. I want it because it brings us to our topic, which is that you say one of the best ways to network is to follow your interests and find your people. Tell us more about that. Exactly. What do you have in mind, Leah?
Leah Payne:
Yeah, what I mean is to identify places that are of interest to you. That can be employers or a job sector or young professionals, different types of groupings, by either like types of folks or types of professions. It can also be a talk.
I personally like Creative Mornings. I know that’s in other cities besides Portland as well. So, just going to see someone talk about art. And then I’m going to be around people who are interested in art as well.
And so I know we have something at least in common, which then makes it easier for me to strike up a conversation, say when I’m going to get my coffee and my donut before the event starts.
Mac Prichard:
And many people, when they think about networking, my experience has been, they believe that it requires going to an airport Holiday Inn where there’s a function room where people are passing out cards.
But what I’m hearing you say is some of the best places to network are events or organizations that you’re already interested and involved in.
Why is that so? Why does that make for more effective networking when you play to your interests or go to the communities that you’re already connected with?
Leah Payne:
Yeah, you’re going to meet people who, again, are already interested in the same thing, so then it’s easier to talk with them. And then there are likely professions that are tangential. There are folks who are doing the work that’s interesting to you.
So if you’re talking to somebody, those are the people who actually know other people or are the people who could get you hired at a different organization. Whereas if you went to something completely different,
You know, like you probably don’t want that job anyway, or you don’t want to be in that field. So why would you be talking with those folks? Of course, there are always those other connections to make, maybe their partner, but your chances of success greatly increase if you’re surrounding yourself in that space.
Mac Prichard:
Terrific. Well, let’s pause here and stay with us. We’re going to take a break. When we come back, Leah Payne will continue to share her advice on why you should follow your interests and find your people when you network.
We’re back in the Mac’s List Studio. I’m talking with Leah Payne. She’s a career counselor at Portland State University who helps students and alumni with personal and professional development. Leah joins us from Portland, Oregon.
Now, Leah, before the break, we were talking about why you should network and how that can help your job search and your career. And the approach that you recommend, which is to start not by going out to the airport Holiday Inn and that function room with a guy, that person who’s passing out cards, but instead follow your interests and find the people that you enjoy spending time with.
So we talked about the difference that can make in a search. And let’s talk about how to do that well. And you mentioned going to events that you’re interested in, in your field, or your personal interests. Another way you suggest doing this is to join a professional association. How does this help you network?
Leah Payne:
Yeah, again, it’s finding, you’re finding folks who are already in that profession, in that field. So those are the folks who are gonna know the different, kind of like the other jobs that are related or kind of that space. And so by following those interests and talking to people, you’re gonna identify that positive space for yourself.
And some ways to find an association, I mean, a quick Google of like this profession insert association, like your local area. Or the other thing I recommend is using O*NET, which is a database, an online database where you can search different professions, and it will really tell you about what that profession does.
Really breaks down the tasks, pay, and everything kind of associated with that. And at the very bottom, there are often national associations at the bottom.
So if you don’t know where to start or you’re having a hard time with a simple Google search, that can really help too, or know things that maybe a search wouldn’t yield either. It’s like some things that are related as well.
Mac Prichard:
Are the students and grads that you work with surprised to learn that they’re almost always a professional group for whatever their profession might be?
Leah Payne:
Yes, they really are surprised to hear that. And I think that, you know, they haven’t entered the world of work yet. They don’t quite understand how different companies have different functions within them.
Say you’re interested in fashion, but you’re an HR, accounting, or communication major, there are jobs at a type of branding company or fashion company that’s combining your interests, but maybe you don’t have to be a fashion designer.
So the association can help you see, like maybe more of the field or like the specific job function as well.
Mac Prichard:
So you find the association for your field, and you go to one or more of their events. What do you recommend people do to make the most of that opportunity when they’re in those rooms with those people who are doing the work they’re already doing or want to do?
Leah Payne:
Yeah, I would say leading with curiosity is the most important thing. Showing that you’re engaged with that other person. You’re not going to that networking event to ask them for a job. You’re going to be curious about other people, about what they’re doing, how they got into that.
And then, of course, you can follow up later for an informational interview or something about that. But if you’re curious and engaged, that makes somebody feel great. And if you can tell them a little bit about you and kind of what you’re interested in.
That’s what’s gonna help you make that connection, and you’re just starting to establish that relationship that you can then further develop as time goes on.
Mac Prichard:
Okay, so professional groups are a great way to find your people and to follow your interests. Another way you recommend doing this is when networking is to ask for referrals. What kind of referrals are you thinking of, Leah, and what’s the best way to make those requests?
Leah Payne:
Definitely. So one thing you can do is start with the people you know. If you have friends, colleagues, family members, if they’re working at organizations that are interesting to you or in that field, you just simply either ask them in person or send them an email that kind of says, show that you’ve done your homework, you kind of understand what they’re doing, or you’re interested in that, and could we talk some more?
If you don’t have people in your immediate network who are familiar with the direction you want to potentially go, one thing you would do is look at your alumni network. So if you, on LinkedIn, you search the university you attended.
In the upper left corner, there’s an alumni tab. And if you click on that and scroll down, there are these different filters. Where they work, where they live, what they do, what they’re skilled at, and what they studied.
And so then you can populate those filters. So like, putting in the major that you have, and then maybe the location you are, and then a keyword, say you’re interested in a particular job title or maybe sustainability for a keyword, for example.
That will help refine the larger alumni list. I would say you’re trying to get it around like 250 or below, 250 people and below. And then you can look down, and you can kind of preview folks’ pathways ahead of time. So it will filter by mutual connections. That could also be something you reach out about.
You could say, I see that we both know this person, or I could see that I could ask my friend if I see that they’re a mutual connection with somebody I want to connect with, and ask, ” How well do you know this person? And would you mind making that introduction for me?”
And so, when you’re looking at those pages, you’re going to see their education path or their educational, yeah, their education path and the career path as well. So you could see, maybe did they make a career pivot, or what organization were they working at?
And then if you find a company that you haven’t heard of before, you can click that icon, and it’ll take you to the LinkedIn page to read about what that company does. And it’s kind of a rabbit hole. Then, like on that company’s website, they have those same filters that I described before.
And off to the right, there’s also the pages people also viewed. So you can see, if I’m interested in this type of organization, these might be other organizations that do similar work. So you can expand that list of employers that you might be looking into and expand that list of job titles you’re interested in.
Mac Prichard:
Okay, so if you went to a college, a community college, a four-year school, a university, there are people who you can find online, and you can, and they’re hiding in plain sight, both the people and the places where they work, and you can ask for referrals or introduce yourself to these people.
Why would someone, and the reason to do this is you’re interested in that job or that employer, why would someone agree to meet you, particularly a fellow graduate of a place where you went to school?
Leah Payne:
If you show that you’re curious, again, that will come across. So if you, as you’re looking through their profile, is it that they made a transition, or you’re most interested in the work that they’re doing now, or how they got into this?
You’re showing that it’s not just a generic message. I’ve taken some time to look at your profile. And then if you have that, we both went to the same school, we both worked at a similar organization, we both know that a similar, the same person, that builds that familiarity, and people do want to help.
And they remember what it was like being in your shoes, being in school, and not knowing what they wanted to do. So, oftentimes, if you lead with curiosity and you show that connection, folks will say yes.
Although I will say, not everybody’s great about checking their LinkedIn. And I would say maybe about, expect a response for every five people you reach out to, maybe one person might respond. So don’t take that personally either. Sometimes folks aren’t the best about logging into their LinkedIn.
Mac Prichard:
LinkedIn is a wonderful resource for doing this; many institutions, colleges, and universities also have their own databases, don’t they?
Yeah, and you can find people’s email addresses and other contact information, so you don’t have to rely just on LinkedIn to connect with others.
Leah Payne:
Absolutely, and those are folks who have opted into that. They’ve shared their information with the university. So you can feel more assured that they’re interested in having those types of conversations with current students.
Mac Prichard:
Yeah. So in the end, when you do reach out to people to do this kind of networking, whether it’s by going to an association or reaching out to fellow graduates via LinkedIn or an institution’s database.
How do you know it’s working, Leah? What does success look like? Because, as you said, you’re not asking for a job, but you are doing a job search. What do you want to walk away from when those conversations are over?
Leah Payne:
Yeah, like I said in the beginning, think maybe a newfound excitement or curiosity in general about the field and what you’re looking for. Oftentimes, too, I find when you’re in those conversations, they’ll be talking about something that you really light up around. You’re like, ” That, I wanna know more about that specific thing. And so then you can ask that person, “Do you know somebody else in your network that knows about that?”
And so you could then ask to make that referral to that next person. So your original cold outreach might lead to a chain of just like simple emails and warm handoffs, which will go easier and more frequently for you.
Mac Prichard:
And in the end, it will lead to those referrals and connections, which you mentioned at the start, that are so important in hiring decisions.
Leah Payne:
Right, and you never know, Mac, where those, you don’t know when it’s a meaningful conversation, maybe until later, or it might pay off three months from now or a year from now.
But the more you’re doing that type of activity, in a career, we like to call that Planned Happenstance from John Krumboltz. And the more you’re doing that, the more you increase your chances of it working out for you.
Mac Prichard:
Well, it’s been a great conversation. Now tell us, Leah, what’s next for you?
Leah Payne:
Wonderful. I will continue to counsel our wonderful students here at Portland State University through individual appointments, workshops, and classroom visits. And then personally, I have applied to counseling programs for another master’s degree. So I will be going back to school either this summer or in the fall, depending on which program.
Mac Prichard:
Well, terrific. Congratulations on your admission to your graduate program. I know that our audience can learn more about you and your work by visiting the Portland State University Career Center website. That address is www.pdx.edu/careers.
And you also invite listeners and viewers to connect with you on LinkedIn. When you do reach out to Leah, please tell her that you saw or heard her on Find Your Dream Job.
Now, Leah, given all the great advice you’ve shared today, what’s the one thing you want an audience member to recall about why you need to follow your interests and find your people when you network?
Leah Payne:
Because that will lead to a really genuine and open-minded job search. And ultimately, you want to be happy in the work that you’re doing. So using those strategies ultimately will hopefully help you get to that end result that you’ll be more satisfied with your profession and your job.
Mac Prichard:
Thank you for listening to Find Your Dream Job.
You can support our show and help others find it by leaving a review and rating on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Have a question or a suggestion? Email me at mac@macslist.org, or connect with me on LinkedIn.
To make sure you never miss an episode, sign up for our free weekly newsletter at macslist.org/podcasts.
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 Megan Hattie Stahl. Our music is by Freddy Trujillo.
This is Mac Prichard. See you next week.
###