How to Network as a Recent Graduate

"I hate networking." I hear this all the time. And I get it. The idea of walking up to strangers at events, making small talk, and asking for favors feels forced and uncomfortable. But here's the truth: networking doesn't have to feel like networking. Here's how to build genuine connections without being awkward: Start with warm connections. Don't cold message strangers on LinkedIn. Start with: → Former colleagues → Alumni from your school → Mutual contacts who can introduce you → People you've worked with before These conversations are easier because there's already a foundation. Lead with offering value, not asking for favors. Don't start with: "Can you help me find a job?" Start with: "I saw your post about [topic] and thought you might find this article interesting." Or: "Congratulations on your new role! I'd love to hear how it's going." Give first. Ask later. Use LinkedIn to build relationships before asking for anything. Don't send a connection request and immediately ask for something. Instead: → Engage with their posts (thoughtful comments, not just "Great post!") → Share their content when it's relevant → Send a message just to catch up, no agenda Build the relationship over time. When you do reach out, make it easy for them. Don't say: "Can I pick your brain?" Say: "I'd love to hear about your experience at [Company]. Would you be open to a 20-minute coffee chat? I'm happy to work around your schedule." Be specific about what you're asking for and respect their time. Schedule "informational coffee chats" instead of calling it networking. Reframe it in your mind. You're not networking. You're: → Learning from someone's experience → Having a conversation about your industry → Building a relationship with someone interesting Take the pressure off yourself. Follow up and stay in touch; don't just reach out when you need something. After the conversation: → Send a thank you note within 24 hours → Share an article or resource they might find useful → Check in every few months (congratulate them on wins, share updates) Stay on their radar in a genuine way. The best networking doesn't feel transactional. It feels like building real relationships with people you respect. And those relationships? They're the ones that actually lead to opportunities. Save this post so you're ready to network without the awkwardness.

Dear May 2025 Grads especially international students, Graduated now.. Excited? Nervous? Wondering how to land a job in the U.S. as visa deadlines loom? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Let’s talk real job search strategy. Here are some out-of-the-box networking + time management tips that worked for me and many others because the "just apply online" route? It’s not enough anymore. Networking tip #1: Become a connector, not a collector Don’t just collect LinkedIn connections. Engage. After every virtual or in-person event, send a thoughtful message: “Hey [Name], I loved your take on [topic]. Would love to stay in touch and learn from your journey.” Then follow their content, leave a meaningful comment weekly. Not just "Great post"—say why it resonated. Real Example? I did this with a speaker from a conference. A week later, they referred me to a role I didn’t know existed. Networking tip #2: DM like a human Cold messaging can work if it’s warm in tone. No one likes “Hi, can you refer me?”. Try this: “Hi [Name], I’m a May 2025 grad, exploring roles in [your field]. Your path at [Company] is inspiring! What advice would you give someone starting out?” You’re not asking for a job— You’re building trust. Jobs often follow. Networking tip #3: Start your own thing No industry events? Create one. Host a 20-minute Zoom chat with peers and invite 1 professional. Call it “Something Creative.” Record it, post snippets on LinkedIn. Now you’re no longer chasing people— They come to you. Time Tip #1: Pick 3 buckets daily Job search feels endless—so make it finite. Every day, pick only 3 things: 10 application 10 follow-up 1-2 learning or networking action Then rest. Your brain needs consistent progress, not burnout. Time Tip #2: Theme your week Mon: Research companies Tue: Tailor resume + apply Wed: Networking messages Thu: Interview prep Fri: Personal branding Sat: Review progress Sun: Rest or reflect Theme = clarity. Clarity = momentum. Bonus Tip: Show your work in public Share your job search journey online. Post about projects, learnings, even rejections. One classmate posted his weekly job goals + learnings. He got a DM from a hiring manager who was watching silently. You never know who’s watching. International students—this road is hard, but it’s not impossible. You just need to play it smart, support each other, and show up consistently. If you’re on this journey, You’ve got this. #May2025Grads #InternationalStudents #JobSearchTips #Networking #TimeManagement #F1VisaJobs #OPT #CPT #CareerGrowth #LevelUp

I landed 2 internships with zero experience in data. Not by applying. But by learning how to network — one conversation at a time. 📌 If you’re not at from an Ivy college, 80% of companies at your career fair won’t sponsor. That’s not unfair — That’s just how it works. 👉 Your job is to find the 20% that do. I focused only on that 20% at two career fairs. And I walked away with two internships. 📍 How I Started With Zero Network Just arrived from India. No U.S. experience. No connections. No idea how hiring worked. But I was extroverted. And I genuinely cared about people’s stories. So I started with what I had: → Friends from undergrad in the U.S. → Family friends in any industry → My cousin (data scientist in Australia) → Anyone who could connect me to a sponsor-ready company 💬 My cousin gave me advice I’ll never forget: "Stop building Titanic survival analyses. No one cares. Build projects that show how you think like a business person — not just a coder." So I picked real problems from real industries. And I focused on insights that could help teams make actual decisions. My 3-Step Networking Process: ✅ Step 1: Start with warm contacts I listed 15 people I already knew. And booked as many calls as I could. 🎯 One day in class, I gave a thoughtful answer. My professor, Jason Cirilo, said: "That’s a great take. Let me introduce you to someone in the industry." He connected me to Rakshit Goyal! That one intro taught me more than any textbook would. Now he shares great job search content on LinkedIn — go follow him. ✅ Step 2: Attend everything — even irrelevant events I went to every event on campus. Not because they were useful. But because I needed reps. Every awkward conversation made me better. I stopped rambling. I started asking better questions. ✅ Step 3: Use LinkedIn — but do it right → Engage with someone’s posts for 3–4 days → Send a connection request with context → Follow up after they accept with a good question 📬 The Realities of Outreach → 20% response rate is normal → Follow up after 5 days → If no reply after 2 follow-ups, move on — no emotion You don’t need a perfect resume. You need 100 real conversations. Start before you need the job. Because by then, it’s already too late. 👇 What’s your biggest challenge with networking as an international student? Drop it below — I’ll reply to a few directly. 📸 One of the proudest moments from this journey and a bucket list moment: Having my family visit me at American Airlines HQ. They saw where I work. I saw what it meant to them. #InternationalStudents #NetworkingTips #CareerFair #JobSearchStrategy #F1Visa #NetworkingForStudents #CareerAdvice #InternshipSearch #LinkedInNetworking #GradSchoolLife #PersonalBranding

Students are asking me: “𝐀𝐦 𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫?” ❌ No, of course not. Industry experience is one of the most valuable things you can put on your resume but you can get creative with how you get that experience. Some of the best opportunities aren’t posted — they’re shared. Here’s how to make real progress without a formal internship: ⸻ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐩 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 ⭐️ Check Eventbrite + Meetup — connect with local professionals, even for funzies ⭐️ Big names recruit heavily at SWE, SHPE, NSBE — I got my Apple internship through SWE ⭐️ Niche events: SF Tech Week, Afrotech, Latinx in Tech, Grace Hopper, MLH Hackathons, etc. Not-so-secret tip: These events let you upload your resume to conference-specific databases, and many secure next-day interviews/offers from this. ⸻ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 ⭐️ Look into Capital One’s Early ID, Google STEP, Goldman Sachs Insights, Facebook University, etc ⭐️ Campus ambassadorships — Microsoft, Notion, Adobe, etc → These often lead to referrals, experience, and paid gigs ⸻ 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐘𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 — 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬 ⭐️ Research with a professor (just ask!) ⭐️ Helping a startup on a short-term project ⭐️ Freelance or launch your own product ⸻ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐃𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 — warm connections ⭐️ Professors: Many are ex-industry professionals — they have connections to companies or even graduated students in the workplace ⭐️ Alumni: Find grads from your school, ask about their path — then ask about opportunities ⭐️ Local companies & startups: Easier access, faster timelines ⸻ 5️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 — 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 If you’re not learning 𝘰𝘯 the job, treat learning 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 a job. ⭐️ Courses: Coursera, edX, AWS (Google IT, IBM Data Science, Meta Front-End) ⭐️ Certs: CAPM, Lean Six Sigma, Scrum Master ⭐️ Projects: Scrimba, Frontend Mentor, GitHub -> show, don’t just tell Highlight “Projects” section on your resume + “Featured Posts” on LinkedIn ⸻ 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 ⭐️ LinkedIn | WayUp | Handshake | Jobright AI | Simplify New roles drop daily. Don’t count yourself out early. ⸻ 6️⃣ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝. ⭐️ Read: 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘈𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘞𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 — soft skills get you hired. ⭐️ Rest: Take that trip. You’ll never have this kind of freedom once PTO kicks in. Protect your energy — it’s a long game. I never liked reading myself, but committing to 1 book this year, small wins :) === 🔁: Repost to your network if you found this useful or tag a friend ➕ Follow me: Anna Chen for weekly career tips and job postings #NoInternshipNoProblem #EarlyCareer #NetworkingTips #UndergradOpportunities #TipsIWishIKnewEarlier

Most students think networking starts after college. That’s the biggest mistake. Last month, during a session at a B-school in Delhi, I asked 100 students a simple question: “How many of you have reached out to someone on LinkedIn just to learn from them?” Only 6 hands went up. That’s when I realized:  Most students want to grow, but they don’t know how to start. They think networking means asking for internships or job referrals. But real networking begins much earlier, with curiosity. Here’s what I tell every student I mentor: 1. Don’t wait to “become someone” before you connect. Reach out now. Ask seniors or alumni about their journey. Not for a job but for perspective. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to help if you just ask sincerely. 2. Be visible, not pushy. Attend webinars, comment on posts, ask questions during sessions. Visibility builds credibility 3. Share your small learnings. A short post about your first presentation, your failed group project, or a book that changed your thinking, it shows initiative. 4. Follow up with gratitude. Send a thank-you message. 99% of students don’t. That’s why the 1% who do get remembered. Networking isn’t about collecting contacts. It’s about building relationships that grow with you. Start before you need it, Because by the time you do, it’s already too late. If you’re a student unsure where to begin, start by connecting with people who inspire you. Ask, listen, and learn that’s how real networking begins. What's stopping you from reaching out to someone right now? Drop your biggest fear in the comments.

No experience. No job. But how do you get experience if no one gives you a chance? That’s the cycle most students and fresh graduates find themselves stuck in. Internships want experience. Entry-level jobs want experience. And you’re left wondering, where do I even start? Here’s the truth: you don’t wait for experience. You create it. Here’s how you can start, even before your first official opportunity. 1. Start Before You’re ‘Qualified’ Don’t wait for someone to assign you a project, build your own. Analyze open data, write a small case study, create dashboards, or conduct a short literature review. When you show initiative, you already stand out. 2. Collaborate with Professors Professors appreciate students who take initiative. Read some of their recent papers and reach out: “I’d love to contribute to your research, even if it’s just with data cleaning or a literature review.” This can open doors to research assistantships, publications, and strong recommendations. 3. Join University Labs or Research Centers Early Don’t wait until mid-semester. Walk in during your first week. Most labs need volunteers for data collection, documentation, or organization. That’s hands-on experience you can already add to your resume. 4. Offer Help to PhD Students You probably have PhD students in your university juggling research work. Ask if they need help with smaller aspects of their projects, surveys, references, or analysis. It’s a great way to learn research methods and build real connections. 5. Volunteer Beyond Campus Hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health centers often need volunteers. You’ll gain exposure to real-world workflows and team collaboration experience that speaks volumes in interviews. 6. Join Student Clubs and Career Groups Your university likely has clubs related to your field data analytics, public health, or informatics. Join them. You’ll discuss industry trends, organize events, and meet alumni who work in top companies. That’s where authentic networking starts. 7. Use Your Career Center Don’t overlook it. Career centers offer resume help, interview prep, and connections to internships or alumni. They’re built to help you succeed, use them early. The truth is simple: Networking isn’t just sending requests. Experience isn’t something you wait for. You build both through curiosity, initiative, and consistency. Start before you feel ready. That’s how you’ll always stay ahead. #CareerGrowth #FreshGraduates #NetworkingTips #HealthInformatics #PublicHealth #EarlyCareer #JobSearchStrategy #GradSchoolTips #InternationalStudents #BuildBeforeYouNeed Image - https://lnkd.in/g5e9y2Rw

Dear Debbie, Everyone tells me I need to network to find ajob, but I’m an introvert.  Do I really need to network? If so, how do I do it? Networking Novice in Nashville Dear Networking Novice, I totally get it—networking can feel daunting. Throughout my science and technology policy career, I have hated evening receptions, dinners, and the numerous other events that are part of a Washington, DC, policy life. Yet, it's a key part of the job search puzzle and your long-term professional life. I still reach out to contacts I made at events years ago when I have a question. Think of networking as a way to gather insights and understand the job market better, rather than expecting immediate job opportunity identification or offers. It’s like planting seeds for future opportunities. Here’s how to start: 1. Define Your Purpose: Understand why you want to network. Are you looking to gain industry insights or clarify job roles? Do you want to determine if you’re a good match while considering pivoting to a new career path? 2. Craft Thoughtful Questions: Prepare questions like, "What does a typical day look like in your role?" or "What skills are essential for success in this field?" Also, ask how they see the job market for their field and gather suggestions on where to find jobs. 3. Identify Contacts: List 5 "warm" contacts you know and 5 "cold" contacts you don’t. This will help you build a diverse network. Put together a database to keep track. 4. Create a Reach-Out Plan: Write LinkedIn and email message templates to connect with these contacts. Start with warm contacts to gain confidence. Develop a brief profile, shorter than your resume, as background information for your emails and DMs. 5. Follow-Up: Don’t forget to thank the person who chatted with you and let them know where you eventually find employment.  Networking is a long-term effort, not a short-term one. Networking opens doors to hidden job markets and can even lead to mentorship. Remember, every conversation is a step forward. Ready to draft your first outreach message, Networking Novice in Nashville? Debbie

💡 If I were graduating today, I wouldn’t spend hours on job boards. Thousands of candidates apply every day, and most resumes get lost in the noise. Instead, I’d follow a proactive approach that actually works: 1️⃣ Track startups that just raised funding Check out venture capital firm pages on LinkedIn or their websites. Startups that recently secured funding are growing fast—and they need talent. 2️⃣ Find the founders and founding team They know exactly what their company needs, making them the ideal people to pitch. 3️⃣ Send a thoughtful, personalized message Introduce yourself, but more importantly, show that you’ve done your homework. Mention 1–2 things you genuinely admire about their product, mission, or recent achievements. 4️⃣ Show the ROI of hiring you Instead of sending a resume, explain how your skills can solve their immediate challenges or accelerate growth. Your outreach should say: “Here’s how I can add value,” not “Hire me.” Fun fact: one month before I graduated, I didn’t have a job. I got tired of applying through traditional channels, so I messaged every founder I knew, explained how I could help them grow, and landed my first Product Manager contract without a single job board application. 🔥 Opportunities don’t always come through the standard path. Sometimes, you have to create them yourself.

I always like to mention the Alumni feature when I’m teaching about LinkedIn job search tools because it’s one of the most effective. LinkedIn’s research discovered that alumni are 3x more likely to help you than any other type of connection. To use the alumni feature, go to your school’s LinkedIn page. You can do this easily by typing the school name in the search bar. Once you’re on the school’s page, you’ll see a tab for Alumni. Click that tab. The Alumni feature allows you to search for job titles, industries, and the years attended — you can broaden this range to find people who graduated close to you or ahead of you. You can even search by where they live to target people near you or where you want to move (another connection point). You can search by where they work or by alumni who are employed at a specific company where you want to work. I love this feature because I can find multiple common connection points (key networking currency). My first connection point is that we’re both alumni of the same school. Then, I can choose to find alumni where I live, so I choose Jacksonville, FL. Now, I have two common points of connection with this person. Let’s say I also have my heart set on working for Mayo Clinic, so I click Mayo Clinic. Now, I can see all the alumni in my area who work for Mayo — but now, I want to dive even deeper and find a third point of common connection. I will search by what they do to connect with people in HR at Mayo. So I can select that option. You could also narrow it down by what area they studied (maybe you both have business degrees — another point of connection), and you can also select what they’re skilled at (these are the main skill areas on their profile). Lastly, you can choose how you’re connected. LinkedIn will show you 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-degree connections. If I message a UNF alumnus who also studied business, lives in Jacksonville, and works in HR, we have much more in common. This is the perfect person I need to speak to about working in HR at Mayo. When you send a connection request, make sure to list your common points: “Hi (name), we’re both UNF alumni and Jacksonville natives. I studied and worked in HR, too. I’d appreciate the opportunity to connect and network since we’re in the same field.” After you’re connected, you can follow up and ask questions like: “I aspire to work for Mayo Clinic one day. I’d love to hear what path you took to work there.” Or you could say: “I see you’ve been in HR for 10 years and you’re a VP of HR. I hope to grow my HR career and become a director in the next 3 years. I’d appreciate hearing any advice you might be willing to share about your path.” These are the people you want in your network. They are the people who will become your biggest cheerleaders and helpers — the ones willing to hold informational interviews with you, share their stories, and give you advice. #networking #jobsearch #careers

Last week in my client's 1:1 I shared the networking advice worth €399. Today I share it here for free. Because if I hear again: "Networking is unbearable" "I don't have time" "I don't know where to start" ... I will start blocking people who look for excuses instead of answers. Dont wanna network? Cool. Stay junior forever then. Because from ALL the hires I've ever made, the best ones came through someone who knew someone. If you're a senior designer who "doesn't have time to network"? You are not serious in making the cut in 2025. If you are, but dont know where and how to start, this post will literally change your career trajectory. 1. START WITH YOUR WARM NETWORK Follow exactly these steps: LinkedIn → My Network → Connections → Search → All Filters → Past Companies Choose the ones where you worked. Example for me: N26, Miro. Result: 10+ pages of first-degree connections. These people: → Shared projects with you → Know your work quality → Can introduce you to others → Actually answer your messages But no. You want to cold message CEOs or recruiters instead. 🙄 2. TARGET YOUR DESIRED NETWORK Pick 5 dream companies. Go to their LinkedIn pages → People → Filter by location + role. Example: Berlin + Product Designer Now you have a list of people who: ✅ Work where you want to work ✅ Do what you want to do ✅ Live where you live Revolutionary, right? 3. USE THE "GIVE, GIVE, GIVE, ASK" FRAMEWORK Stop asking for favors immediately. Instead: → Comment on their posts with actual insights → Share relevant articles → Ask SHORT, meaningful questions Make yourself visible BEFORE you need something. 4. THE 15-MINUTE RULE Someone recently sent me a 45-minute meeting link. FORTY. FIVE. MINUTES. Before they even shared what they need. Are you insane? Nobody owes you 45 minutes of their life. Start with 15. Respect people's time. Maybe they'll offer more. If not - make these 15 minutes count. ITS a lot actually if you use this time well. 5. WHAT TO ACTUALLY WRITE ✅ Get their name right (yes, this needs to be said) ✅ "How are you?" - basic politeness opens doors ✅ Skip the autobiography - talk about THEM ✅ Explain WHY them specifically ✅ Clear call to action at the end Not: "I'd love to pick your brain" But: "I'm curious about your transition from IC to management at X - would you be open to a brief chat?" HERE'S THE THING: You don't need to network with 10 people weekly. One meaningful conversation every two weeks? That's 2 new connections monthly. 24 per year. Each knows 10 relevant people. Do the math. And honestly? Those networking conversations might be the most stimulating part of your entire week. I know for me they are. So when you say "I don't have time"... You're really saying "I don't prioritize my career" And that's fine. Just don't complain when your peers get the roles you wanted.