How to Use Networking to Find UX/UI Job Leads

🔁 How I Landed Job Interviews Without Applying Online Most people apply for jobs like this: 1. Scroll job boards 2. Click apply 3. Wait… and wait Here’s a better way — one that’s landed me real responses (and job offers) without a job posting in sight: Instead of waiting for companies to list roles, I started reaching out before the job was public — or even defined. And it worked. 📬 I got messages like: “We’re not hiring officially, but let’s schedule a call.” “Perfect timing — we’re just starting to think about this role.” “You’re exactly the kind of person we need.” The secret? ⚡️ I wasn’t just asking for a job — I was offering value. Here’s exactly how to try this 👇 ✅ 1. Make a “Dream 20” List Look for companies you admire — especially remote-first ones. Example: I listed companies like: • Buffer • Zapier • Gitlab • Airbnb ✅ 2. Do 5 Minutes of Research Find something they’re working on or talking about — blog posts, product updates, podcasts. Example: “I saw on your blog that you’re launching a new onboarding flow — loved how simple and user-first the design was.” That personal touch makes your message impossible to ignore. ✅ 3. Find the Right Person Avoid generic “careers@” emails. Go straight to the hiring manager or team lead. Example: For a product marketing role → Search: “Head of Marketing” or “Growth Lead” For design → “Head of Design” or “Senior Product Designer” Use LinkedIn + company “Team” pages. Tools like Hunter. io can help, too. ✅ 4. Send a Value-First Message Don’t say, “I’m looking for a job.” Say: “Here’s how I can help.” And make it relevant. Example: Hi Sarah, I’ve been following Superhuman and really appreciated your recent feature on scheduling. I’ve helped other SaaS teams increase feature adoption through async onboarding and in-app walkthroughs — I would love to explore ways I could help support your growth, even if nothing’s officially open right now. Short. Thoughtful. Custom. ✅ 5. Follow Up (Kindly + Consistently) No response? Follow up in 5–7 days. Example follow-up: Just bumping this in case it got buried! I’d still love to explore how I could contribute at [Company], even informally. Appreciate your time either way. One message might get ignored. The second one often gets seen. The best jobs aren’t always listed — and the best candidates don’t wait for a posting. ✨ Start the conversation. Be bold. Be human. 👉 Follow Daniel Wolken for more job search strategies and remote roles you won’t find anywhere else. #remotejobs #jobsearch #jobbhunt #remotehiring #remotework #careerhacks #jobs #workfromanywhere

“I don’t know anyone in the industry.” Neither did I. Neither did most of us. But we got in. Not by knowing people. But by getting known. Let’s break the illusion that networking = coffee chats. Because if you're a May 2025 grad (especially an international student)... Time’s ticking, anxiety’s rising, and sending 100 resumes isn't enough. You need visibility. You need credibility. You need a connection. Here are creative networking strategies most people don’t discuss—plus how to do them. 1. Create a “Missing Manual” for Your Dream Role Instead of sending a cold message, create something they’ve never seen. How to do it: Research a company/role you're interested in (e.g., Marketing Analyst at Spotify) Find what skills, tools, or challenges are core to the role Build a 1-pager called: “What I Wish I Knew Before Joining [Team Name]” Write tips, links, tools, or ideas for someone in that role Send it as: “Hi [Name], I created this as a learning tool while researching roles like yours. Thought you might enjoy it—or even improve it. Would love to hear what you think.” Why it works: You’re not asking for a job. You’re showing value. And curiosity. 2. Make a “Portfolio Video” Breakdown of a Brand or Campaign Especially helpful for roles in product, strategy, UX, or marketing. How to do it: Pick a brand you love (or want to work for) Study one campaign, product, or feature they launched Record a 2-minute video: What worked What could be better What you do differently Post it on LinkedIn or send it directly to an employee there This shows critical thinking and industry fluency, without asking anyone to hop on a call. Some grads landed interviews this way before applying. 3. Interview 3 People... Then, Publish a Mini Guide People LOVE being featured. Even more than being asked for advice. How to do it: Pick a topic you want to learn about (e.g., “Getting into Product without a CS Degree”) DM 3 professionals and say: “Hey [Name], I’m creating a short guide for students breaking into [field]. Would love to ask 3 questions via email—takes 5 minutes. Would you be open?” Compile responses into a clean Notion or Canva doc Share it on LinkedIn and tag everyone Bonus: it builds your brand and your network. 4. Drop a Handwritten Note (IRL or Digitally) In a world of AI, everything, handwriting stands out. How to do it: Go to a local event, info session, or talk Afterward, write a thank-you note with 1 thing you learned If it’s virtual, write the same note and scan it as a PDF Email it to the speaker Subject line: “One Thing You Said That Stuck With Me” Nobody forgets the person who sends paper or care. Final Thought: You don’t need to be the most experienced. Just the most intentional. Get known for being someone who shows up. Because in the end… Jobs come from people. People connect to stories. And your story? Deserves to be told. #May2025Grads #InternationalStudents #NetworkingTips #CreativeCareerMoves #JobSearchHelp

I’ve been talking to a lot of candidates who tell me they’ve been applying to 100+ jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed but aren’t hearing back. The success rate from just applying online is low today. The competition is tough, with hundreds of applicants for each role. The last time I landed a role through LinkedIn applications was in 2017. Over the last 4 years, every opportunity I’ve had came through referrals, recruiters reaching out to me, or connecting directly with someone at the company. If you’re going to apply, look outside of LinkedIn too. I still use LinkedIn but as a tool to research hiring managers or recruiters, not just to send messages. I’ve never relied on InMails. I find other ways to connect instead. Even as a recruiter myself, I’ve received 100+ messages at times and couldn’t possibly respond to them all. That’s why thoughtful, genuine connections matter so much more than mass messaging. If you’re job hunting, here are some strategies that have worked for me and others in my network: -Referrals make all the difference. If you can connect with someone at the company, even just for an introduction, it can go a long way. - Slack communities are a great resource. Channels like Online Geniuses (marketing), RevGenius (sales), HackingHR (HR), The Designership (Design), Tech Ladies, and RemotelyWeWork often have job boards or strong networking opportunities. - Explore platforms specific to your industry. AngelList for startups, BuiltIn for tech and marketing roles, and Reddit/Twitter can help if you’re engaging with the right people. I actually recruited writers on Reddit in my last role. - Tailor your outreach (especially if you're sending Linkedin message). If you’re in a creative field, sharing a portfolio, or even a small project can really make you stand out. To my network: If you’ve had success finding roles recently, what’s worked for you? Feel free to share.

“Let me know if you hear of any jobs you think would be good for me…” 𝙉𝙤. This is the absolute wrong way to approach networking and trying to find out about job openings. I’ll tell you why it’s wrong first and then suggest some much more effective alternatives. It is an UNREASONABLE ask. It is no one’s job to keep an eye out for opportunities for you. It also puts the power in someone else’s hands - what are you going to do while you’re waiting? And, unless the individual is close to you and has a vested interest in the outcome of your job search, it’s ineffective. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙? Here are a few suggestions: 💼 Tell people you are networking with what companies you are interested in, and ask if they have any connections there 🏢 Ask people what companies in your industries are growing and/or great places to work 💻 Monitor the career pages of the companies your connections work at and when you see roles that interest you, get back in touch to see if they have any insights about the job, or know the hiring manager 📨 Stay top of mind with regular (every 4-6 weeks) email check-ins, sharing posts of mutual interest, updating them on your progress and follow-up on any suggestions they made These 4 strategies are far more likely to yield the results you are looking for. Try them out! Not sure how to navigate your job search, networking, or where to begin? Get my free 10 Habits of Successful Job Candidates here! https://lnkd.in/e66-iSpX #OpenToWork #JobSearchTips #CareerCoaching #LinkedInTips #ProfessionalNetworking #CareerDevelopment #JobHunting

In the last 3 years, I helped 49 clients find the job they love. The common networking advice job seekers get: Step 1: Send generic connection requests. Step 2: Wait (and hope) for responses. Step 3: Share your resume immediately. Step 4: Repeat until success. I found a better approach: 1. Research the right people: Focus on recruiters, hiring managers, and practitioners in your target field. 2. Personalize every message: Mention shared interests, their work, or the company in your outreach. 3. Start with value: Ask thoughtful questions or express genuine admiration for their expertise. 4. Build a relationship: Engage with their posts or provide insights before asking for help. 5. Follow up strategically: Stay polite and persistent without overwhelming them. If you follow this process, you'll build meaningful connections that can help you find the place where you enjoy working.

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