Career Change Is Hard. Connection Helps.

In July 2025, Matt Nazario-Miller was among 363 Stanford University staff members who received layoff notices due to financial challenges. Many facing such a loss like this may choose to process this information privately. Nazario-Miller, however, had a different instinct: what if those laid off navigated this difficult season together, rather than alone?

In that spirit, he launched what he has called the Higher Ed Staff Hope Collective, a grassroots effort to build community and share resources among higher education staff navigating career transitions-whether facing job loss or preparing for a potential change in an evolving higher education landscape.

While Nazario-Miller’s response may seem unusual, his instincts were spot on. There is real power in leaning on our peers during career transitions, whether it’s a layoff, a new position, or a promotion. Connection can help people work through the change, regain perspective, and imagine their next steps.

What a Transition Really Means

Before jumping into the value of connections, it can help to define career transitions.

Beryl Greenberg, an executive and career coach, shared the following definition from William Bridges, author of “Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes”: the internal, psychological process of adapting to change, distinct from the external event of change itself.

In other words, “a transition is how we think about and react to a time of change and uncertainty,” she said.

The key here is that you have agency. While some changes, like a layoff, can feel forced upon you, you still have the power to decide how you’ll respond and what you’ll make of the moment. You can adjust your mindset. You can also try these strategies for weathering change in the workplace.

Perhaps most importantly, though, remember that change can be used to reflect strategically on your career: what are your priorities? What do you want more or less of in your next role? What opportunities are out there for you, including ones you may not have considered before?

These can be difficult questions to answer on your own, though.

We All Need Connection

“Humans are wired for connection,” said Greenberg. “Each person will differ on how much connection feeds [them], but we all need it.”

This need is even greater during periods of change. “Our frame of reference, our habits, our patterns have been disrupted, and we have many gaps to fill,” she said.

Connecting with others can help you recalibrate. Greenberg noted that layoffs, structural changes within your organization, a promotion, or a huge leadership opportunity can all trigger fear, uncertainty, and indecision. “These fears tend to spiral,” she said. “One way to stop the spiral is talking it out with someone to better identify what’s real (or not) about these fears.”

We are often our own worst critics. Having a more objective point of view can help you sort out your feelings and chart a path forward.

Don’t Overcomplicate Networking

Networking can feel overwhelming, especially when you view it as asking others for help. Greenberg recommends shifting your mindset to relieve some of the pressure and anxiety.

“I like to refer to networking as connecting, because the term networking can trigger lots of fear itself,” she explained. “That’s all networking really is…making connections. Having a conversation. Exchanging ideas. Catching up. When you are able to really connect with a person, you are engaging them and they are thinking about you in a different way. That’s when the magic happens.”

Connect On Your Own Terms

For networking to be effective, it has to be done in ways that feel natural and comfortable for you. If sending an email or message feels awkward, uncomfortable, or transactional, that’s a sign to rethink your approach.

“It’s important to create your way of making and nurturing connections that feels authentic to you, so you’ll actually do it,” Greenberg said.

Do you need to adjust your language? Your mode of communication?

Networking can feel uncomfortable if it only happens when you need something. That’s why many experts recommend connecting early and often, so when you do need support, it feels like a natural extension of an existing relationship rather than a transactional ask.

Greenberg also encourages professionals to think about networking as an act of giving.

“What if your goal is to see what you can offer someone else and support them? What an amazing way to create a connection!”

When relationships are built this way, reciprocity often follows naturally.

This spirit of giving is what inspired Nazario-Miller to launch the Hope Collective.

“Coming from a role in employee communications situated in human resources, supporting staff well-being is important to me, and this commitment remains alive no matter where I work or what job I have,” he shared.

Focus on Relationships, Not Outcomes

Moving away from the transactional mindset also means letting go of expectations for immediate results.

“If you go into [a conversation] expecting to hear about a real, live job opening, you are not only most likely going to be disappointed, but you are fostering an energy that does feel like you are asking for help,” Greenberg noted. “The person on the other side of the table (or Zoom) will feel it. And, by the way, they probably don’t know about a real, live job anyway. Most people do not have open positions at the forefront of their minds!”

Your peers and mentors have more to offer than specific job leads. For Nazario-Miller, connecting with others has provided both solidarity and perspective.

“Connecting with peers has broadened my horizons as I consider what could be next for my career journey,” he said. “Learning about different areas of work and understanding how colleagues have overcome similar challenges has helped me to imagine new pathways for moving forward.”

In Conclusion

Nazario-Miller couldn’t control losing his job, but he could control how he responded. By choosing connection over isolation, he created something that supported others while also helping him navigate his own transition. His story is a reminder that while career disruptions can feel deeply personal, they don’t have to be faced alone. At the same time, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to “excel” at networking. When reaching out to others, focus on real connection rather than transactional exchanges — it’s those authentic relationships that make the difference.