Networking For Remote Workers

Think about the entrepreneur who makes a strategic pivot back to their roots. After years in a major market—learning, networking, seizing opportunities—they decide to return to their small island or village, armed with the insights and experience they gained in the big leagues. This move isn’t just sentimental; it’s a calculated choice to apply the best practices, structures, and market-tested strategies they’ve absorbed to create value in their hometown. They see potential where others might overlook it—a gap in the market, a chance to streamline local industries, or an opportunity to introduce innovative solutions that could shift the local economy. By leveraging their big-market knowledge and adapting it to the unique needs of their community, they aren’t simply starting a business; they’re revitalizing local enterprise, bringing new growth and opportunities.

I can't tell you the last time I looked at a resume in over 12 years of hiring, and I've hired many people. It's not even a nonstarter. I don't even think about it. I know others will disagree with me, but I don't find any value in the PDF version of your LinkedIn page. I'll just go to LinkedIn. But don't despair; there are many ways to garner attention, be introduced, or stand out. 1. Follow-up notes - it's incredible how often I do not receive a follow-up message after a conversation. It's so easy to do. Here's my opinion on the best follow-up message setup: (1) Thank the person for their time. (2) Bullet point a couple of things you learned from the conversation (3) Ask a question to re-engage. Send the follow-up within an hour of the interview. Send a note to each participant if it's a group meeting or panel. IMPORTANT: If you don't get a response after your first note, could you send a couple more? People are busy, and the inbox is even busier. 2. Use video - I always appreciate it when an applicant uses Loom or another video provider to send an introduction or thank you video. It's a rare occurrence that surprises me due to its ease of use. 3. Please research the role and be sure you are a fit. Are you framing your qualifications to match what the hiring managers are looking for? Ensure you fully understand what you are applying for. 4. Research the team and understand the company. Who are your hiring manager's peers? Who else would you want to meet? If you are interviewing with the CMO, contact the CRO or VP of Sales and try to schedule a meeting. It doesn't hurt to ask. There is no excuse not to research with tools like LinkedIn available to you. 5. Get an introduction before applying - Once you research and meet a couple of people from the company, ask for an introduction. I can count on both hands how often I've received an introduction from a team member for a role I am hiring for. Even better, if you are a referral from a trusted peer, you go to the top of the list, no matter what. 6. Prepare with questions—Spend an inordinate amount of time listing out questions you want to ask the interviewer. Discuss the role expectations, but don't forget to ask questions specifically about them, such as "Why did you choose to work here?" etc. Hiring great people isn’t about resumes but connections, preparation, and effort. Don’t rely on the same old playbook if you want to stand out. Get creative, do the work, and show why you’re the best fit for the role. The good news? Most people won’t do these things. That’s your edge.

Your application’s uptime depends on equipment your code will never see. A switch. A firewall. A storage system. A power supply. This rack is a useful reminder of how much has to work before a single API request succeeds. Whether you build backend services, data pipelines, or AI systems, these fundamentals matter: • Patch panel: Organizes cable connections so teams can trace, maintain, and change them. • Switch: Connects devices within the network and moves traffic between them. • Firewall: Controls which network traffic is allowed through, based on security rules. • Servers: Run applications, databases, virtual machines, and processing workloads. • NAS: Provides shared storage that devices access over the network. • Storage: Holds the data your applications depend on. Performance and availability matter alongside capacity. • Load balancer: Distributes requests across servers, often using health checks to avoid unhealthy instances. • UPS: Provides temporary backup power during interruptions, allowing equipment to keep running briefly or shut down safely. • PDU: Distributes electrical power to equipment inside the rack. But the most useful engineering lesson here is about shared dependencies. Five application servers can still go offline together if they depend on the same failed switch. Multiple services can become unavailable when their shared storage stops responding. An entire rack can lose power if its power path has no working backup. Adding more servers only improves resilience when you also examine what they share. That thinking carries directly into cloud architecture: availability zones, storage dependencies, network paths, and failover design. When reviewing a system, ask: “If this component fails, what else becomes unavailable?” The answer often reveals more about reliability than the number of servers you have.

Want deeper trust and faster promotions at work? Research shows it might start outside the office. New research (HBR, July 2025) reveals this insight: When it comes to bonding with coworkers outside of work… Where you connect matters more than how you connect. Most leaders avoid off-the-clock bonding. Too personal. Too risky. Too weird. But avoiding it means missing out on serious upside: Deeper trust Faster promotions A more human workplace The study introduces a key idea: “Relational holding environments.” These are non-work spaces where people connect more naturally. Think: gym classes, cooking clubs, volunteer events. But only if they meet 4 criteria… The 4 traits of a high-trust, low-risk space: Flexible – fits any schedule Legitimate – socially accepted Virtuous – signals self-growth Playful – invites fun, lowers pretense Example: Peloton. Coworkers bonded over rides and hashtags. Execs high-fived interns. Promotions happened mid-spin. One person even rode their way into the C-suite. It worked because it felt safe enough to be real. No forced icebreakers. No Zoom fatigue. Just shared effort, good music, and mutual encouragement. Leaders who tried it said it changed everything: It loosened power dynamics Sparked unexpected honesty Built bridges across departments and titles It made work feel human. Any environment can work if it’s: Active Purposeful Playful Easy to join, hard to overthink Great work cultures aren’t built in all hands meetings. They’re built where people let their guard down. What’s one space outside of work where you genuinely enjoy showing up?

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

Access to quality healthcare shouldn’t be limited by geography, infrastructure, or resources.  One of the most exciting trends transforming care today is how digital innovation and cross-industry collaboration are helping make this a reality. Cloud-enabled platforms, telehealth, and portable, AI-guided tools are extending care beyond the traditional hospital walls – enabling clinicians to support patients in underserved and remote communities with greater reach and effectiveness. Technology is only part of the solution. Meaningful, sustainable progress depends on working hand-in-hand with governments, NGOs, health systems, and local partners to tailor solutions to diverse needs, bridge infrastructure gaps and ensure equitable access for all. Whether it’s expanding screening programs, enabling remote care delivery, or strengthening local capacity, collaboration across sectors is essential to turning promise into impact.   I’m proud to see this shared commitment to partnership and innovation. When we work together, we can help improve care for more people, everywhere.   My GE HealthCare colleagues Peter J Arduini Catherine Estrampes, Taha Kass-Hout, MD, MS and I share our perspectives on the trends helping redefine the future of healthcare.  Read more in the link below and share your thoughts.    https://lnkd.in/ga5fxPxH  

The 10-minute daily habit that's helped my clients land remote roles 3x faster than traditional methods... 👇🏼 Most remote job seekers spend HOURS each day scrolling through the same job boards as thousands of other applicants. Sometimes all these need is a few simple shifts or “hacks” to stand out from the crowd… After helping hundreds of people land remote jobs, I've learned success comes down to consistency with the right activities - not the time spent. I call it the "10-Minute Connection Method" - and it's dramatically outperforming traditional application strategies. Here's exactly what to do: ✅ 1 // Identify ONE ideal company each day Don't spread yourself thin across dozens of random postings. Research and select a single company that truly aligns with your skills and values - whether they're actively hiring or not. ✅ 2 // Find TWO people to connect with Locate someone in your target role and someone on the hiring team. Don't just follow them - study their recent posts and activity to understand what they care about. ✅ 3 // Make ONE meaningful engagement This isn't about generic comments like "Great post!" Leave a thoughtful, value-adding response that demonstrates your expertise and perspective. Make it impossible to ignore. ✅ 4 // Track everything in a simple system Keep a spreadsheet of your daily connections with follow-up dates. This turns random networking into a structured pipeline of opportunities. — The power of this approach is in the compound effect: // After 5 days: You've made 10 strategic connections // After 30 days: You have 60 potential pathways to hidden opportunities // After 90 days: You've built a network of 180 people who can refer you internally — My client Jason had been applying to remote marketing roles for 4 months with zero interviews. Within 3 weeks of implementing this method, he had conversations with hiring managers at 5 companies - 3 of which weren't even publicly hiring yet. The most surprising part? This approach actually SAVES time compared to endless application submissions, while delivering drastically better results. Remote work is fundamentally about relationships and trust. Shouldn't your job search reflect that? Here’s to us “escaping the cubicle” Wes 📌 Remote job searching? Comment “resume” and I’ll send you my Remote Resume Checklist to help you get started. #remotework #jobsearchtips #resumewriter 🎥 (@chandanartacademy)

Don't reach out cold until you have spoken and reconnected with all these people first and have asked for AIR + explained exactly what you are looking for. 🎈 Advice - career advice, job search advice, career pivot advice 🎈 Information - What's going on in the company, industry? What trends are they seeing? 🎈 Recommendations - Who do they recommend you speak with to learn more? What professional associations or groups do they recommend? Where do they go or what do they read to stay current? 🎯 Contact ALL these People So They Know What You Are Looking For 1. People You Used To Work With Your past work colleagues have seen you perform in the job and know your strengths and work ethic. These people make an excellent source of information to find out what changes are going on in the business and industry. You want to let them know you are looking for a new opportunity. 2. Friends, Family, Neighbors People you know are most likely to want to help you if they can. Your friends have a vast network of contacts you don’t know about. 3. Past Managers Assuming you and your previous manager or supervisor got along, it’s a good idea to reach out to them. Your past boss may know of upcoming opportunities at your old company 4. Target Company Employees Talking with people who work inside a company you're interested in allows you to learn what it is really like to work there. Plus they can provide advice and/or insight on the best way to apply. 5. Alumni/Classmates Don’t forget to tap into classmates, professors, and alumni as another potential pool of people to network with. Use LinkedIn's Alumni tool plus your school’s Advancement or Alumni office database. 6. Customers/Clients The people you’ve served already know you and are familiar with your work. Lean on them as a source of information about what’s going on. Your customers and clients have a feel of the work landscape and future needs. This information will help you position your most important skills and experience. 7. Vendors/Suppliers Similar to your clients and customers, these people know what it’s like to do business with you. They also have a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry because they are still servicing businesses. 8. Service Providers (Doctors, accountants, hairdresser, etc.) Don’t overlook the business relationships you have with professionals who provide you with services. These people have their own vast network of contacts. 9. Fellow Volunteers If you volunteer, you’ve likely established relationships with other volunteers and people within the organization. These people have seen you give your time and effort.

The lesson I take from so many dispersed teams I’ve worked with over the years is that great collaboration is not about shrinking the distance. It is about deepening the connection. Time zones, language barriers, and cultural nuances make working together across borders uniquely challenging. I see these dynamics regularly: smart, dedicated people who care deeply about their work but struggle to truly see and understand one another. One of the tools I often use in my work with global teams is the Harvard Business School case titled Greg James at Sun Microsystems. It tells the story of a manager leading a 45-person team spread across the U.S., France, India, and the UAE. When a major client system failed, the issue turned out not to be technical but human. Each location saw the problem differently. Misunderstandings built up across time zones. Tensions grew between teams that rarely met in person. What looked like a system failure was really a connection failure. What I find powerful about this story, and what I see mirrored in so many organizations today, is that the path forward is about rethinking how we create connection, trust, and fairness across distance. It is not where many leaders go naturally: new tools or tighter control. Here are three useful practices for dispersed teams to adopt. (1) Create shared context, not just shared goals. Misalignment often comes from not understanding how others work, not what they’re working on. Try brief “work tours,” where teams explain their daily realities and constraints. Context builds empathy, and empathy builds speed. (2) Build trust through reflection, not just reliability. Trust deepens when people feel seen and understood. After cross-site collaborations, ask: “What surprised you about how others see us?” That simple reflection can transform relationships. (3) Design fairness into the system. Uneven meeting times, visibility, or opportunities quickly erode respect. Rotate schedules, celebrate behind-the-scenes work, and make sure recognition travels across time zones. Fairness is a leadership design choice, not a nice-to-have. Distance will always be part of global work, but disconnection doesn’t have to be. When leaders intentionally design for shared understanding, reflected trust, and structural fairness, I've found, distributed teams flourish. #collaboration #global #learning #leadership #connection Case here: https://lnkd.in/eZfhxnGW

This month’s Sustainably Speaking looks at what’s needed for communities to engage with AI and enjoy the benefits of the AI economy. Access to electricity and the internet are two key building blocks. The third is reliability. When electricity is there around the clock, connections hold, and people have the right devices and skills, access turns into opportunity. That’s when communities can learn, work, and build livelihoods that last.    To bring this to life, we’re highlighting three partners who are helping communities make that shift from basic access to meaningful participation:  ▪️Anditel S.A. is expanding connectivity and clean energy in some of Colombia’s most remote regions. ▪️ Cassava Technologies is strengthening Africa’s digital backbone with fiber, data centers, and locally governed cloud and AI capabilities.  ▪️Compudopt is making sure families have devices, support, and affordable internet at home, which often determines whether learning and economic opportunity can take hold.    What inspires me most are the people behind these efforts. Gnilane, a cleaner in Senegal, now helps others get online while creating new income for her family. Liliana is an Indigenous artisan in the Colombian Amazon who can sell her crafts to customers she once couldn’t reach. A mechanic in Uganda named Kasagga who can quickly access the information he needs to repair vehicles more efficiently. These stories show what becomes possible when the essentials work the way they should.    Since 2022, we’ve helped extend connectivity coverage to over 299 million people, including more than 124 million across Africa. We could not have achieved this scale without strong, long-term partnerships and local communities leading the way.    I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and the stories that show how infrastructure, reliability, and skilling come together to create real opportunity. https://lnkd.in/g7-vhViF