The bold move that landed Miley Cyrus her dream job

Updated Dec. 31, 2025, 12:41 p.m. | By Lifestyle Reporter

Miley Cyrus will inspire you to elevate your networking game in 2026.

Miley Cyrus poses against a blue background — Miley Cyrus / Instagram (@mileycyrus)

'Dream As One' singer Miley Cyrus bagged one of her biggest jobs with a skill that every person should learn - networking.

She recently opened up about how she got to work with critically acclaimed director James Cameron.

Cyrus co-wrote and performed 'Dream As One' for his film, 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', which was released in cinemas on December 19.

The song is nominated for 'Best Original Song' at the 2026 Golden Globes and is on track to get an Oscar nomination as well.

During a screening of the film in Hollywood earlier this month, Cyrus revealed how she was asked to work on the soundtrack. The 33-year-old says it all started when she rubbed shoulders with Cameron, Harrison Ford, and Jamie Lee Curtis at the Disney Legends 2024 event.

They were among the inductees who were recognised for their contributions to the company's legacy.

Instead of making light conversation with the trio, Cyrus decided to line up her next job.

"I was patiently waiting my turn, and I was standing behind Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, and James Cameron," she said, per Gold Derby.

"I've always been one to find opportunities. And so, I told all of them that I was available to do music — and everyone called me except Harrison Ford."

She exchanged numbers with Cameron and Curtis, who both thought about her when two fantastic job opportunities came up.

Cyrus ended up co-writing a song for 'The Last Showgirl', starring Curtis and Pamela Anderson. 'Beautiful That Way' earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

"That was just pure me, kind of being sleazy at the Disney Legends and trying to get a gig. It ended up working pretty well."

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Cyrus added, "For James Cameron, I asked a question that I knew the answer to, which was, 'What are you up to?' I knew that he was up to 'Avatar' for 20 years. Then I just said, 'Well, if you ever need anything, let me know. I could go blue! Or I could write some music.'"

The rest is history. If she didn't speak up when she had the chance, she might not have got the opportunity to be part of two critically acclaimed films.

Experience and skills will get you far, but networking will help propel you further up the ladder.

Networking is a vital career skill that can help you differentiate yourself from the competition. Make building strong networks one of your top career goals for 2026.

Here are a few networking tips to get you started.

1. Don't ask for favours, focus on real connections: Networking isn't about begging people for a job or only contacting them when you need a favour. Building genuine networks will lead to authentic opportunities, and you won't even have to ask for them. Your network will automatically think of you when something comes up.

2. Don't be a desperate networker: Many people only start networking and reaching out to people when they are desperate for a new job. A casual chat with three movie heavyweights led to future opportunities for Cyrus. She wasn't desperate; instead, she just put herself out there. Cyrus now considers Cameron her friend and mentor.

3. You don't need to be overly confident: Sometimes, just introducing yourself and being genuinely interested in a conversation can go a long way. Good listening skills and asking meaningful questions go a long way.

4. Don't let rejection kill your vibe: Not everyone you try to connect with online or in person will be interested in building a professional relationship. Ford didn't exchange numbers with Cyrus, but she did not sweat it. Reaching out to Jeff Bezos on LinkedIn won't get you a job at Amazon, but commenting on relevant posts in your field and consistently sharing your insights might get you noticed by the right people.