Building a Referral Network as a UX/UI Designer

“I’ve applied everywhere. I’ve heard nothing.” If that’s you right now... Let’s pause. Let’s pivot. Because what if the answer isn’t more job boards... but new doors you haven’t knocked on? If you're a May 2025 grad (especially on an F-1 visa), job searching in the U.S. can feel like running a marathon in a fog. But here’s a secret: You don’t always need access to the C-suite. You need a crack in the door. And cracks? You can create them. Here are networking strategies you haven’t tried yet—and how to do them in real life. 1. The “Alumni Stack” Strategy Instead of a one-off message to one alum, build a chain. How to do it: Search for alumni from your school on LinkedIn Use filters: industry + location + company (e.g., “Data Analyst” + “Bay Area” + “Visa Inc.”) Reach out to 5 with a message like: “Hi [Name], I’m a May 2025 grad exploring roles in [field]. I noticed you’ve made a transition I really admire. I’d love to hear 2 mins of your journey—no pressure to respond, just grateful to learn from alumni like you.” Once you speak to one, end by asking: “Is there someone else you’d recommend I reach out to next?” That intro makes the next conversation 10x easier. It’s like referrals—but for insight. 2. Start a “Career Curiosity” Newsletter (Even if it’s just 5 subscribers) When you share what you’re learning, you become a magnet. How to do it: Pick a free platform (Substack, Beehiiv, LinkedIn articles) Once a week, share what you're learning in your job search: 1 resource (course, tool, podcast) 1 insight (“What I learned from shadowing a UX designer”) 1 question for your readers Share it with people you admire: “Hi [Name], I’ve started a small newsletter where I unpack career tools and lessons as a new grad. I mentioned your work in the latest edition—thank you for the inspiration!” Suddenly, you’re not just searching. You’re creating conversation. 3. Offer to “Intern” for 1 Week (Unpaid & Project-Based) It’s bold—but bold gets remembered. How to do it: Identify small companies, startups, or nonprofits you genuinely care about Find a task you could help with (BIM audit, website UX review, blog writing) Reach out with: “Hi [Name], I’m a recent grad learning [skill]. I’d love to offer 1 week of help—free—on a micro-project your team’s too busy to finish. I’ll treat it as a capstone, and you get a finished piece of work. Open to it?” Even if they say no—you’ve made a lasting impression. And if they say yes? That could turn into a referral or a role. Final Thought: Most people think networking = asking for jobs. But real networking? It’s creating a reason to stay in someone’s mind—long before you ever apply. Your goal isn’t to impress. It’s to connect. To show up with curiosity. To leave behind a feeling that says: “This person is going somewhere.” Try just one idea this week. #JobSearch2025 #NetworkingWithoutCringe #InternationalStudents #GradLife

"You need to network to get a job in UX." "Your network is your net worth." But how? No one explained that part. Here’s what I learned about networking authentically. What effective networking isn’t: ❌ Sending random LinkedIn connection requests. ❌ Cold emails asking strangers for a “quick chat.” ❌ Liking posts or sending generic “Congrats!” messages when a random connection gets a new job. These aren’t harmful, but they won’t make you stand out. Here’s what worked for me: 1️⃣ Be proactive, start where you are Sometimes the best opportunities are right under your nose. There might not be an open role at your company yet, but that’s the perfect time to start networking internally with UX teams. Why? No urgency means less pressure. A five-minute coffee chat during hiring season is fine, but months of casual connections build trust and keep you top of mind when a role eventually opens. 2️⃣ Find shared interests In my previous role as an admin assistant, I discovered a virtual UX book club hosted by the UX team where I worked. Joining was a no-brainer. It gave me the chance to meet designers, researchers, and managers without awkwardly asking for favors, while also learning more about UX. Win-win. 3️⃣ Keep past connections alive If you’ve taken a UX course, stay in touch with your instructors. See something online that reminds you of class, share it. Preparing for an interview, ask for advice. Thoughtful, occasional interactions can go a long way in keeping those connections alive. 4️⃣ Turn rejections into opportunities A “no” doesn’t mean failure. I always connect with recruiters and hiring managers after interviews, even if I didn’t get the job. Thank-you emails, LinkedIn connections, and engaging with their posts have kept doors open for future opportunities. 5️⃣ Get outside (literally and your comfort zone) In-person events were intimidating at first. What would I say, what do I have to offer without a full-time UX role? But attending local UX events through Meetup was a game-changer. Meeting people in person, some I already knew from LinkedIn, made networking feel more natural, and I realized how many others were in the same position as me. 6️⃣ Show up online This year, I set a goal to post on LinkedIn monthly. It felt cringy at first, and imposter syndrome was real, but sharing my journey opened doors to authentic connections I wouldn’t have made otherwise. If posting feels too big, start by leaving thoughtful comments on posts, something more meaningful than “Congrats!” or “I agree.” _______________________________________________________________ Networking isn’t about transactions, it’s about building real relationships that feel authentic. Take the initiative, step out of your comfort zone, and focus on quality over quantity. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. In my next post, I’ll share tips for navigating the stressful, saturated UX job market. It’s tough, but trust me, it’s possible!

I spoke to a group of UX/UI Design students at the PROG Foundation Development Center - all about connecting on LinkedIn to get a job in the UX/UI space. Here are some of the takeaways: 🔆 Make new connections weekly 🔆 Search for your role or the role you want to be in, connect, connect! 🔆 People want to help, send a genuine message to see if there is interest Your LinkedIn account does nothing for you if you don't have a goal to connect. I have talked to too many people who say, "I wish I started connecting with more people on LinkedIn BEFORE I was laid off." It takes some intentionality. My advice ⬇️ Find a time of day where you typically have about 15 minutes uninterrupted Set a weekly reminder for that time and change it as needed During that time you can do any of the following: ☑️ Search for roles you want to connect with ☑️ Connect with several people without much of an additional filter - no need to add a note ☑️ Send two messages to new connections (don't overwhelm yourself) Here are some examples of messages (PLEASE STEAL THESE): Interested in learning from an early stage of getting your feet wet: "Hi [Name], great to connect with you. I'm currently in a UX/UI design cohort and am really loving what I'm learning. My goal for connecting is to learn more about people who have experience in the space. Would you be open to a conversation where I can ask some questions to understand if a company like [their company] would be a good fit for me down the road? No worries if not, I'm also happy to send some questions over DM if that's easier for you as well. Hope to hear from you soon." Interested in learning from people with more experience in your space: "Hi [Name], great to connect with you. I'm currently working as a [Your current role] and am really enjoying it. My goal for connecting is to learn more about people who have experience in the space. Would you be open to a conversation where I can ask some questions to understand if a company like [their company] would be a good fit for me down the road? No worries if not, I'm also happy to send some questions over DM if that's easier for you as well. Hope to hear from you soon." Interested in a career pivot into another type of role: "Hi [Name], great to connect with you. I'm currently working as a [Your current role] and am interested in a possible career change. My goal for connecting is to learn more about people who have experience in [their job title] space. Would you be open to a conversation where I can ask some questions to understand if a company like [their company](or you can replace company with role) would be a good fit for me down the road? No worries if not, I'm also happy to send some questions over DM if that's easier for you as well. Hope to hear from you soon." Baby steps and this isn't a race. But I will say that if you take a small amount of time each week to intentionally connect, finding a job will be much easier for you.

A little over a month ago, two people from my network messaged me cold to strike up a conversation. Both UX researchers on the job hunt. Today, one of them joined the team at Key Lime Interactive!! I've been reflecting on what this one person did well that made them stand out. This might help anyone else who is on the job hunt: 1. Approached me like a human and chatted about mutual interests, and asked for advice (i.e., informational interview approach) -- This approach made it easy for me to respond in a non-transactional way, and generated interesting conversation that I was happy to engage in 2. Approached LinkedIn as a tool to communicate skills, experiences, and goals; not as a job board -- The winning candidate posted several quality posts on LinkedIn about their career and their experience, even drawing on some of the topics we discussed -- That kind of rapid synthesis made me think of this person as a real researcher; they showed that they were listening and thinking in a focused manner, and validated the conversation we had 3. Continued to check in and update me with questions and observations; did not stop at the first exchange -- Anyone on the internet can be fly-by-night, here today and gone tomorrow -- What is impressive is showing up consistently with enthusiasm and curiosity, and being courageous enough to reach out to people you've never met to build relationships ------ A bit of strategic planning and strong curiosity go very far in a job hunt. To summarize: - Advice is free and easy to give; ask for advice, listen, and apply what you learn - Go the route of enthusiasm and curiosity; show that you are eager to learn from others because you share the same goals they do - Practice writing and talking about what makes you uniquely you; this will help you present your best self during interviews Let me know if this resonates! What have you found that is effective? #careergrowth #mindset #uxresearch #uxdesign #linkedin