One of my clients was excited about exploring a new career direction. He’d done the thinking. He had his questions ready. He knew who he wanted to talk to.
But then it came time to actually send that first email to someone outside his network, someone he didn’t know – and he froze.
He stared at a blank screen for hours. Then drafted something he didn’t like. He was overthinking it. Trying to find the perfect words. Worrying about bothering people.
And here is the irony: This public sector leader had negotiated complex agreements, managed difficult stakeholder relationships, and handled several crises.
But asking for a 20-minute conversation to help with his career change?
That somehow felt impossible.
In this episode, I’m going to close that gap for you. With a simple email template you can copy, paste, and send today.
Head over to spacetoshiftyourcareer.com/39 to grab the template.
Why Public Sector Leaders Get Stuck On This
My client had done the hard work.
He’d identified a specific career idea he wanted to explore. He’d prepared his questions. He’d even begun talking to people in his existing network.
But then he hit a wall: reaching out to people he didn’t know.
He thought:
“I don’t want to bother them.”
“They are busy people.”
“Why would they talk to me?”
So he didn’t reach out. And his exploration stalled.
And this is completely normal.
When nothing is at stake, cold outreach feels easy. But when it feels like YOUR career is on the line, suddenly there’s a lot of emotion involved.
The good news? There’s a simple fix.
Use this template
Here’s what to actually say.
—
Hi [Name]
I came across [your website/your profile on LinkedIn] as I was reading about/listening to [insert topic].
I’m currently exploring what I might want next in my career, and your work really caught my attention.
I’d love to hear a bit about your experience: what got you into [their sector/field], what you’re enjoying about it, and any insights you’d have for someone curious about this space.
Would you be open to a 20-minute conversation?
—
That’s it. Clear. Honest. Respectful.
Adjust your ask based on your context: coffee catch-up, Zoom call, whatever is appropriate where you are.
And if you’d like some inspiration for questions you could ask, check out episode 29 called “How to Turn Conversations into Career Exploration.” I share 6 specific questions that will give you valuable data about whether this path is actually right for you.
But first: Send the email. That’s your next step. Don’t overthink it.
Copy, paste, tweak the text to match your voice – and hit send.
Until next time: make space, rediscover YOU, and then take action.