Networking for Recent Graduates

People ask me all the time how to network. Here’s a short, tactical guide on how to actually do it - grounded in real data, real results, and 3,500+ jobs found through relationships. 🎯 The #1 misconception Networking is not: “Let me ask you for a job.” It is: “Let me have a real, human moment with someone in this industry.” ✅ What actually works This is how you build meaningful professional relationships - the kind that lead to real opportunities: 1️⃣ Be around. Events, Discords, social posts, games projects, ticket giveaways, community coaching - just show up. Start by being visible. Over time, become memorable for the right reasons. 2️⃣ Don’t pitch. Connect. Ask questions. Be genuinely curious. You’re planting seeds, not harvesting. This takes months and years. There are not shortcuts to building real relationships. 3️⃣ Look sideways, not up. A junior colleague can often help you more than a C-level exec. Build trust, first, with people at your level or just above it. 4️⃣ Follow up like a human. Send messages that matter: “Just played [X] - loved the level design.” “Your GDC talk really stuck with me - thank you.” “Noticed you moved from QA to design - would love to hear how.” 5️⃣ Give before you get. Share insights, leave helpful comments, support others’ work - anything that builds trust and makes you recognizable. 6️⃣ Say hi when there’s nothing to gain. That’s the best time. No stakes, no pressure - it’s when real relationships start. 7️⃣ Don’t just “shoot your shot.” ❌❌❌❌❌ Never reach out with “Can you get me a job?” That closes doors, fast. Lead with curiosity and conversation, not a transactional, cold ask. 🔥 If I wanted to be provocative… I’d say this: Applying to jobs without connective tissue is very inefficient. Particularly for early career and more senior folks. Instead of asking, “What should I apply to?” - ask, “Where can I build a relationship?” Posting about hundreds of applications is understandable, but it misses the point. Focus on how many real connections you’ve made - then work backward to the right applications. 🧠 Avoid the Dream Company Trap Too many people focus only on the one studio they love - and end up pinging the same five people as everyone else. I always ask: Where do I already have network strength? Where can I go that everybody else isn’t going? We track 3,000+ game studios. 1,000+ of them hire. Go outside the top 50. 🪜 Think in ladders and sidesteps Instead of aiming straight at your target studio, look at who owns that studio. Think conglomerates. Think sister teams. Adjacent verticals. 📊 The data backs it up. Across our community: Cold apps: ~1–2% yield Apps with any warm connection: 10–20x+ better odds 🧭 The shift is simple Spend more time building bridges than sending résumés. Relationships are the infrastructure of hiring. Build that first. The first thing I ask anyone who's stuck is: Are you spending 80%+ of your effort building relationships? If not, do that.

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

The 10-minute daily habit that's helped my clients land remote roles 3x faster than traditional methods... 👇🏼 Most remote job seekers spend HOURS each day scrolling through the same job boards as thousands of other applicants. Sometimes all these need is a few simple shifts or “hacks” to stand out from the crowd… After helping hundreds of people land remote jobs, I've learned success comes down to consistency with the right activities - not the time spent. I call it the "10-Minute Connection Method" - and it's dramatically outperforming traditional application strategies. Here's exactly what to do: ✅ 1 // Identify ONE ideal company each day Don't spread yourself thin across dozens of random postings. Research and select a single company that truly aligns with your skills and values - whether they're actively hiring or not. ✅ 2 // Find TWO people to connect with Locate someone in your target role and someone on the hiring team. Don't just follow them - study their recent posts and activity to understand what they care about. ✅ 3 // Make ONE meaningful engagement This isn't about generic comments like "Great post!" Leave a thoughtful, value-adding response that demonstrates your expertise and perspective. Make it impossible to ignore. ✅ 4 // Track everything in a simple system Keep a spreadsheet of your daily connections with follow-up dates. This turns random networking into a structured pipeline of opportunities. — The power of this approach is in the compound effect: // After 5 days: You've made 10 strategic connections // After 30 days: You have 60 potential pathways to hidden opportunities // After 90 days: You've built a network of 180 people who can refer you internally — My client Jason had been applying to remote marketing roles for 4 months with zero interviews. Within 3 weeks of implementing this method, he had conversations with hiring managers at 5 companies - 3 of which weren't even publicly hiring yet. The most surprising part? This approach actually SAVES time compared to endless application submissions, while delivering drastically better results. Remote work is fundamentally about relationships and trust. Shouldn't your job search reflect that? Here’s to us “escaping the cubicle” Wes 📌 Remote job searching? Comment “resume” and I’ll send you my Remote Resume Checklist to help you get started. #remotework #jobsearchtips #resumewriter 🎥 (@chandanartacademy)

80% of students find career fairs overwhelming. Here’s how I made Rutgers’ work for me: Upcoming graduation means attending more career fairs. Academic fairs can be chaotic, but a little planning helped me show up fully, without burning out. Sharing what worked: 🔥 Most Underrated Arrive early with thorough research on companies you like. Event portals usually list all the attending companies and their websites — use that. Check for sponsorship status, open roles, and whether they align with your interests or skills. It helps you start stronger conversations and avoid booths that might not be relevant to your goals. Saves time and energy. 🧠 5 Minutes > Small Talk A quick scan of each company’s open roles helped me skip “What do you do?” and ask questions that actually mattered to both sides. 🎯 10 Booths > 30 I focused on AI, healthcare, and data roles. Mostly because of my internship and academic experiences made me a better fit. Prioritizing meant fewer convos, but better ones — with space to actually connect. 📍 Map Your Route Early Since booths were grouped by department, planning my path saved energy and avoided the lines that weren’t relevant to my field. 📄 Resumes as Icebreakers I brought a few tailored versions plus a general one. One recruiter actually told me, “This matches our needs more than anything I’ve seen today.” 💬 No Pitch, Just Curiosity I skipped the rehearsed intro for med-tech especially and started with: “I’m working in health AI and data and looking to grow in that space — what’s your team focused on these days?” Way better engagement. 💡 Bonus: Snap a photo Not for social. Just to remind yourself later — you showed up. It felt like a successful fair — not because of leads, but because I stayed present, calm, and intentional. That’s a win. P.S. I’ve been working with a health AI startup and have seen the hiring side too — good prep really does stand out. Always open to connecting with folks building in AI, healthcare, or data — happy to exchange insights or learn about what teams are working on. #RutgersCareerFair #CSGrad2025 #WomenInTech #HealthcareAI

Every opportunity that changed my life came from a relationship (not a resume). 6 tips to build a network that actually works for you: 1/ Check In Without Needing Anything ↳ Send "how are you?" texts more often than "can you help me?" emails. ↳ People forget what you said, but they remember that you stayed in touch. 2/ Give Before You Get ↳ The best networkers give help more often than they ask for it. ↳ Share opportunities, make introductions, send useful articles. 3/ Start Building Today ↳ The worst time to build relationships is when you desperately need them. ↳ Your next job won't come from a blind job app. It'll come from someone you know. 4/ Make It Personal ↳ Remember birthdays, kids' names, their big wins. ↳ One genuine conversation beats 100 business cards. 5/ Stay Consistent ↳ Set reminders to reach out quarterly. ↳ Small efforts compound into strong connections. 6/ Be The Connector ↳ Introduce people who should know each other. ↳ Become known as someone who helps others win. The net worth of your network compounds faster than your 401(k). Every promotion, every opportunity, every breakthrough... They all started with a relationship. Your dream job is one conversation away. But that conversation only happens if you've been nurturing relationships all along. Start today. Text someone you haven't talked to in months. Not because you need something. Just because relationships are your most valuable career asset. What's your favorite way to network? Reshare ♻️ to help someone in your network. And give me a follow for more posts like this.

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

“You shouldn’t have to be an influencer to land a job you deserve.” Brittany Sharnez's post rightfully went viral this past weekend because job seekers are tired of jumping through a circus’ worth of hoops to be employed in this economy. But the part of the post I want to hit pause on is where we assume building a personal brand = being an influencer. Or building a personal brand = any of the following: ❌ Forced corporate social responsibility ❌ Needing to be a top industry expert ❌ Spamming your network with posts You can absolutely build your personal brand without becoming an influencer, or doing any of the above. I know what you’re going to say: “But Megan, you’re an influencer so you’re biased.” To which I respond: “I’ve had job opportunities come my way long before I had any kind of following.” And those opportunities came to me because I decided to intentionally build my own personal brand on LinkedIn after a prior job search from hell. Here’s how I built the foundations of my personal brand back when I had <2k followers: ✅ Coffee chatted with professionals I wanted to learn from ✅ Publicly shared my projects and asked for feedback ✅ Built my brand long before I needed my next job 2 years later, actively building my brand paid off when I was unexpectedly let go from my job, and then was employed less than a month later. Enough people were familiar with me, the work I’ve done, and the thoughts I’ve shared on this platform that I didn’t have to send out a single cold application during that job search. I don’t say these things to brag, but rather to say that I of all people know that building your brand may seem like an excessive hoop to jump through, especially in this job market. But desperate times like these call for desperate measures. And when you take the measure of building your personal brand, I am living proof that it 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 be worth it in the long run.

If you're an international student who just graduated, this post is for you. I came to the US on an academic and athletic scholarship at 18. I’ve been on an F-1 visa, done the whole STEM OPT thing, and built my career from scratch here. No family, no connections, no favors. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: You can’t afford to move like everyone else. Most students start figuring things out after graduation. For international students, that’s already too late... So here’s what I’d be doing right now if I were you: 1. Get clear on the companies that will even consider you. Use tools like MyVisaJobs or H1BGrader. Cross-reference with LinkedIn filters (E-Verify, visa sponsorship) and stop wasting time on dead ends. 2. Make your LinkedIn undeniable. Your profile should do three things: → Tell your story → Prove your skills → Make someone want to message you If it doesn’t, fix it. 3. Treat DMs like applications. I've never seen someone get hired because of a "Hi, can you refer me?" message. I have seen it happen after thoughtful, well-timed outreach rooted in value. 4. Document, don’t perform. Show the work. Post the project. Share the lesson you just learned. Visibility > perfection. 5. Track everything. Build reliable systems. If you’re serious, treat your job search like a job. Know your timelines. Know your next step. The most dangerous place to be on OPT is passive. It’s tough. I know. I’ve lived it. But the ones who win are the ones who move different. #InternationalStudents #JobSearchTips #OPT #STEMOPT #CareerAdvice #DataScienceCareers #LinkedInTips #EarlyCareer #VisaSponsorship #WorkInTheUS #H1B #Graduation2025 #LinkedInNews

One trick that helped me get job at Walmart 3 months before graduation- NETWORKING! 👉I reached out to approximately 3,500-4,000 people on LinkedIn since December 2023. 👉About 300-400 individuals responded. 👉I engaged in calls or email conversations with 150-200 people through platforms like Topmate.io, Zoom, LinkedIn calls, phone calls, email, and ADPList.org. 👉There were days when I had continuous calls booked from 5pm to 11pm, one after another 👉These conversations helped me get my resume reviewed, receive feedback on my approach, and learn to articulate my work more effectively. How I achieved such a high response rate: 1. I started by reaching out to my 1st-degree connections. 2. Then, I contacted people from my past companies who are currently working in the US. 3. Next, I connected with people who graduated from my college. 4. Finally, I expanded to 2nd-3rd connections (it's easier to get a response when you have a common connection). Pro tip: Always try to find a common thread with the person you're reaching out to – it significantly increases your chances of getting a response While most interactions were one-time occurrences, many evolved into weekly connections. The best part about networking is gaining friends within your domain who not only help you grow but also understand your journey and hustle. This win goes to everyone who responded and agreed to spare their time for a call. However, special special mention to: Aditya Khandelwal who became both a mentor and such a great friend. He guided me throughout the process, took mock interviews, provided honest feedback, and helped me improve my approach. Also listened to all my rants the entire time 🙈 Salvatore V. Vicarisi Jr. who so generously helped me navigate the stressful process. Consistently boosted my morale, checked in before and after every interview, and always ended call with refreshing, positive pep talks. Had the loudest cheer when I got the job🥹 There were so many people i just connected once sharing roles and providing me referrals left right and center , grateful for you all❤️ Building genuine connections made all the difference for me. Don't hesitate to reach out and learn from others in your field!

I tested 𝟭𝟬𝟬+ 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 (During my last job search and as a career coach). These 𝟱 get the highest response rates, especially from hiring managers👇 1. The Profile Viewer Message Check who viewed your LinkedIn profile. They’re already aware of you, don’t let that warm lead go cold. Try this: "Hey [Name], I noticed you stopped by my profile, appreciate you taking a look! Curious, was there something specific that caught your eye, or are you open to conversations around [industry/topic you're exploring]?" 👉 Tip: Warm > Cold. Always start with people who’ve already shown interest. 2. Acknowledge + Ask Find something unique about their background or a recent post, and ask a question. "Hi [Name], I saw your talk on [topic], your insight on [specific point] stuck with me. How did you land your current role at [Company]?" People love talking about themselves, especially when you show genuine interest. 3. Value First Offer a useful insight, article, or trend that aligns with their work. No ask, just value. "Hey [Name], I saw your post about [topic]. Just came across this article, it touches on a similar trend. Thought you might find it interesting." Position yourself as thoughtful, not transactional. 4. Mutual Connection Approach Bridge a real mutual connection or shared experience. "Hi [Name], I noticed we both worked with [Person] / went to [School] / worked in [Company or Industry]. I'd love to learn more about your path, especially how you made the transition to [Role/Company]." Relatability opens doors faster than credentials. 5. Compliment + Curiosity Start with a specific compliment, then open the door. "Hi [Name], really enjoyed your article on [topic], especially your point about [detail]. Are you open to connecting with people exploring similar roles in [industry]?" It’s respectful, direct, and makes it easy for them to respond. Reminder: You don’t need to spam 100 strangers. Start with 10 meaningful messages a week. Track responses. Iterate on what works. Focus on warm leads, shared interests, and genuine curiosity. What template would you like to see next? If you're ready to level up, let’s position you for the roles you actually want. ➕Follow Jaret André for more daily data job search tips.