4 Career Assets You Need to Be Networking-Ready

External Networking

It helps in networking to be prepared with at least these four assets.  They will never be perfect so do what you can and let them out into the world.

Resume

You likely have a resume and have updated it countless times.  

So I will add just two points for you to consider:

• Add a company description:

  • Add a brief description of each company including product, industry and scale.  Note if it is public, private or venture capital/private equity funded.

  • For example:  Educative is a Series A venture backed, edtech company (SaaS) whose technology platform provides hands-on learning for software developers. 

• Mimic the job description - Use the exact same words as the job description (as appropriate) to make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to connect the dots between my experience and what they want (or at least what they said they want).

Introduction bio

The introduction bio is useful when you ask connections to introduce you.  Send a separate email that they can easily forward to facilitate the intro and in the email, include why you want the introduction, your LinkedIn profile link, and your introduction bio to provide context on your background.

You can also use the bio to draft the About section of your LinkedIn profile and shorten it for your elevator speech.

I leveraged talks by Rebecca Okamoto and Jodi Glickman to come up with the following structure:

1a.  For job search - What can you do for the reader?  How can you make their life better? -  Use this structure to get you started - [I help [my target audience] achieve [a benefit they desire]] without [negative consequence]].

1b.  For networking - What are you driving forward?  What are you hoping to achieve next?

2.  What is your experience? - Pick and choose from your background that supports your ability to achieve ‘What you can do for the listener?’

3.  Connect the dots.

I have different versions of my bio based on the objective of the email or meeting.  

Elevator speech

‘Tell me about yourself’ is often an explicit request in interviews and implicit request in networking meetings.  It is important to prepare an elevator speech and practice it until it flows easily and casually.  Your bio is a good starting point.

This is hard!  I still stumble all over myself and catch myself improvising my intro - often resulting in a jumbled mess! 

Practice your elevator speech.  Modify it based on the meeting objective, how you feel saying it and reactions from your listeners.

LinkedIn profile

LinkedIn influencers have a lot to say about optimizing your LinkedIn profile, so read as much as you dare and pick what works for you.

At a minimum, update your:

• Photo - Ask a friend to take a headshot in natural light.  

• Headline 

• About - You can modify your introduction bio for this section.  

• Top Skills reflecting the role you want now

• Experience with brief description of the company and your accomplishments

• Education WITHOUT graduation date and GPA

You will update these assets periodically.  They won’t ever be done, so don’t use ‘perfecting’ your assets as an excuse to delay going out and meeting people.  

Here is my example bio:

Cecilia Cayetano partners with CEOs of high-growth SaaS businesses to develop strategy, strengthen execution, and accelerate what comes next—whether that’s scaling ARR, raising capital, or navigating an exit.

Cecilia has consistently driven measurable results, including accelerating top-line growth, implementing automated financial systems, building budgeting and forecasting frameworks, and establishing the operational discipline needed for scale. Cecilia has also cofounded and scaled a SaaS business from early stage to rapid ARR expansion and global team growth.

Earlier in her career, Cecilia led strategic initiatives at a Fortune 500 tech company and advised companies as a management consultant giving her the ability to diagnose complex problems quickly and execute with precision.

Cecilia thrives in partnering with CEOs who want a builder at their side—someone who can align teams, operationalize strategy, and drive the business forward.

Here is my example elevator speech:

I partner with CEOs at high growth SaaS startups to lead the business forward and shape what happens next - whether that is accelerating growth, raising capital and/or seeking an exit. 

Most recently at WatchMeGrow, I built momentum to reach XX% ARR growth.  I automated financial workflows by implementing SageIntacct, developed the first ever budget to measure execution, and drove definition and measurement of SaaS metrics to improve accountability.

Prior to that, I was cofounder at Educative. I built the finance and operations functions leading to X ARR growth over five years and global team expansion into Pakistan reaching 400 total employees.

At SimplyMeasured, I joined the company when we were looking for an exit.  I reduced our cash burn by managing spend, and facilitated due diligence with a strategic buyer leading to successful exit - all within six months.

Prior to tech startups, I led strategic initiatives at Expedia and spent over a decade as a management consultant.

I am excited for this role to continue what I’ve done my entire career - build and scale companies with a smart and driven team.