Let’s be honest: networking sounds like one of those civilian buzzwords that comes with a name badge, warm wine, and forced smiles.
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If you’re ex-military, chances are you’re more comfortable building trust in the field than over LinkedIn. But when it comes to landing your next role, especially in a sector you’ve never worked in before, having the right people in your corner makes all the difference.
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This isn’t about collecting LinkedIn connections and showing off how many people accept. It’s about making the right ones, strategically, and without pretending to be someone you’re not.

Here’s how to start.
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1. Know Your Natural Style, Then Use It

Some people love big events. Others would rather eat their boots than walk into a room of strangers. 

Whichever type of person you are, one thing is key: before you start throwing yourself into every industry meet-up or cold-messaging senior directors, work out the style that suits you. Ask yourself:

• Do I prefer one-on-one chats or group conversations?
• Am I better in writing, or does a call help me get my point across better?
• How much time can I realistically give to this each week?

If you’re not clear on this, networking becomes a chore, and you’ll burn out before you see any results.

Quick tip: If you’d rather have five deep chats than 50 surface-level ones, that’s not a weakness, it’s a strategy, so play to it.

2. Map the People You Need

Here’s where most veterans go wrong: they only speak to other veterans. Helpful? Yes. Sufficient? Not completely. It’s a great place to work, and to be honest, those chats will probably open up doors to more people anyway, but as a rule, you need a mix:

• Industry Insiders: People doing the job you want
• Hiring Authorities: People who can open actual doors
• Military Bridges: Veterans who’ve made the leap before you
• Mentors and Advocates: People who believe in your potential and will go to bat for you.

Grab a notebook (or spreadsheet, if you’d rather) and jot down:

• Who do I already know in each category?
• Who’s missing?
• Who could introduce me?

Quick Tip: Start with finding one of each and go from there, working out along the way how many you can handle at once. We’d recommend finding as many of the military bridges as you think you can juggle. 

3. Nail the First Message (and the Second One)

“Hey, I’d love to pick your brain” is not a strategy.

Here’s what does work:

• Be clear about why you’re reaching out
• Be specific about what you’re asking for (a short call, advice on breaking into the sector, etc.)
• Highlight something you bring to the table, whether that’s leadership under pressure or logistics expertise.
• Keep it short and human.

Then (and this bit is key), follow up. Some people don’t respond on the first try, not because they’re rude, but because they’re busy. A polite nudge a week later can make all the difference.

4. Keep Track, or You’ll Lose Momentum

If you’re doing this properly, you’ll be juggling conversations at different stages. You’ll have someone you just reached out to, one you had a call with last week, and one who said “follow up in a month”. Try keeping that in your head and see how fast it unravels! 
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You don’t need a fancy CRM, a basic tracker can work wonders. The key? Use it. A 15-minute review each Monday can stop opportunities slipping through the cracks.

When you’re ready, we have a tracker available for you to use in the Network Building stage on the Redeployable platform. 

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What’s the Point of All This?

Because most job roles, especially good ones, don’t get filled through CVs alone. They are filled by people who:

• Are in the right room
• Are known and trusted by the right people
• Can be clear on the value they offer
  
  

The good news? That can be you.

You don’t need to fake it or try to be the loudest person in the room. You just need a structured, repeatable approach and a bit of guidance along the way.

Want to go further?

If you’re serious about making networking work (and not just another thing on your to-do list), Redeployable has your back.

We’ve created exercises, tools, and templates specifically for service leavers and veterans, so you’re not trying to translate your experience or build a network with guesswork.
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