Networking Strategies for Healthcare Professionals: Beyond LinkedIn

For many healthcare professionals, networking feels like a corporate buzzword, more relevant to business or tech than clinical or operational roles in the NHS or private sector. While LinkedIn is an important tool, it is just one piece of the puzzle.

In a sector built on collaboration, innovation and trust, relationships matter.

Whether you are a Director of Nursing, a COO, or a rising clinical leader, strategic networking can shape your career in ways that job boards and CVs never could.

Here is how to build meaningful connections beyond LinkedIn without feeling like you are “selling yourself.”

1. Be Present Where Conversations Happen

Conferences, professional forums, leadership programmes and specialist seminars offer far more than CPD points, they are goldmines for authentic networking.

Where to start:

• Attend sector-specific events (for example, IHPN, RCN, or specialty-specific leadership forums)
• Join panels, roundtables or breakout sessions, they tend to be smaller, more conversational and less intimidating than mainstage talks
• Stay behind after sessions to speak to presenters or fellow attendees that is often where the real connection happens

Tip: Instead of saying “I’m looking for opportunities,” talk about your interests or challenges you are tackling in your role. It keeps the conversation authentic and future-focused.

2. Reconnect With Your Past Network

Healthcare is a small world. Former colleagues, mentors, supervisors and even course-mates can become valuable allies if you stay in touch.

Send a quick message to:

• Congratulate someone on a new role
• Ask their opinion on a challenge you are facing
• Offer support or share something you have read that reminded you of them

These interactions do not need to be formal. A small gesture can reopen a dormant connection and sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities.

3. Mentor (or Be Mentored)

Mentorship is one of the most underused and effective ways to grow your network. Whether you are offering guidance or seeking it, mentorship builds relationships based on trust and shared growth.

Start by:

• Asking your Trust or employer if there is a formal mentoring scheme
• Reaching out to someone you admire and asking for an informal coffee chat
• Offering your support to someone more junior in your field

Done right, mentorship is mutually beneficial and often leads to deeper, more lasting professional relationships than traditional networking ever could.

4. Speak Up (Yes, Even If It’s Uncomfortable)

If you have worked in healthcare for a while, you do have a voice worth sharing  even if you don’t feel like an “expert.”

Consider:

• Writing a short opinion piece or blog for your Trust’s internal newsletter or a professional body
• Submitting a presentation proposal for a conference
• Contributing to a local health initiative or quality improvement programme

You would be surprised how often visibility leads to connection. People reach out to those who speak up. Your voice might resonate with someone in a position to help move your career forward or even collaborate with you.

Final Thought

Yes, LinkedIn matters. But do not rely on it as your only tool. In healthcare, where culture fit, trust and shared values are essential, real-world networking still holds huge value.

Start small. Be curious. Be helpful. And remember, the most powerful career moves often begin with a conversation, not a CV.

If you are looking for your next opportunity or just want to make sure your are building your network strategically, at Stroud Resourcing, we are always happy to offer advice. Simply call us on 01904 239910.