Let’s talk about professional stalking.

No, not the creepy kind. We’re talking about the career-growing kind.
The kind that helps you figure out what roles you want, how to land them, and who can help.

If you’re transitioning out of the military, LinkedIn is one of your best tools. And if you’re not using it to “stalk” people a little bit… you’re doing it wrong.

Here’s how to make LinkedIn your secret weapon 👇

1. Stalk People With Your Future Job

Want to be a project manager?
Cybersecurity analyst?
Operations lead at a startup?

Search for that job title, and filter by "People."
You’ll get a list of people currently in that role—now you can study:

• What skills and certifications they list
• What companies are hiring
• What their career path looked like

This is a free blueprint for your own transition.

Bonus tip: Look for people who also started in the military. You'll get real insight into how they translated their experience.

2. Stalk Companies That Look Interesting

Found a company that seems cool?
Go to their LinkedIn page, then click “People.”
Now you can see who works there, and what roles they hire for.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do they have other veterans on the team?
• What departments look like a fit for you?
• Who might be a good person to reach out to for an informational chat?

Even better, follow the company and interact with their posts. It keeps you on their radar.

3. Stalk Hiring Managers and Recruiters

Looking at a job post on LinkedIn?
Scroll to the bottom. Many listings show who posted it. That’s your lead.

Click on their profile, learn a bit about their background, and then send a message.
Here’s a script you can use:

“Hi [Name], I’m a transitioning service member doing SkillBridge soon and saw your posting for [Role] at [Company]. I’m really interested in the team and would love to learn more about the position. Would you be open to a quick call or message exchange?”

Professional stalking turns into professional networking real fast when you lead with curiosity and respect.

4. Stalk Your SkillBridge Host (or Target Companies)

If you already landed a SkillBridge internship—great!
Now, stalk your future team:

• Look at where your future coworkers worked before
• See what content your company posts
• Learn the lingo and industry-specific tools they care about

It’ll make your first day smoother and help you make a better first impression.

5. Let Them Know You Stalked (Sort of)

When you reach out or hop on a call, it’s totally okay to say:

“I looked at your LinkedIn before this and saw you started your career in [X]—super interesting.”

This shows you did your homework. People love it when you care enough to prep.

🔍 Want to Put Your LinkedIn Skills to Work? Try These Roles:

• 📍Chatanooga, TN – Herc Rentals
  ​ Fast-track your journey to equipment rentals and sales with Herc.
  ​ View Internship​
• 📍Multiple locations – 7 Eagle Group
  ​ Not sure what you want to do next? Work with 7 Eagle to learn about many industries and find the right fit for you.
  ​ View Internship
  ​​

Professional stalking = smarter networking.

Use it to shape your path, make connections, and find opportunities before they’re even posted.

Your next job?

It might start with someone you stalked today.

Next week’s newsletter will build on this one, focusing on how to write cold DMs and prep for a coffee chat.

Stay tuned ✉️

​
—Kathy + Andrew
Career PCS