Strategies for Networking in the Tech Industry

“Networking is awkward.” You know what’s more awkward? Graduating in May 2025 and applying to 127 jobs with… zero callbacks. Let’s fix that with networking ideas no one’s talking about. and I mean actionable.. 1. “Reverse Research” Your Way Into a Conversation Instead of asking people what they do, show them what you know about what they’ve done. How to do it: Find someone on LinkedIn in your target company/role Read their posts, podcasts, or panels they’ve been on Then send this message: “Hi [Name], I came across your [talk/article/post] on [topic]—your point about [insight] made me think differently. I’m researching [industry], and would love to hear your take on [specific follow-up]. Would it be okay to connect?” That’s conversation built on respect. 2. Book Club for Industry Geeks Start a virtual book or podcast club for your industry. Invite professionals to speak at the end of each cycle. How to do it: Pick 3 peers + 1 book or podcast Create a simple calendar (4 weeks = 4 touchpoints) End with a “Wrap-Up” Zoom chat—invite a guest Post your takeaways on LinkedIn and tag them Because learning together? Is the strongest way to network. 3. Write A “Public Thank You” Post on LinkedIn You probably learned something cool from someone recently. Now imagine you posted it publicly, gave them a shoutout, and showed how you applied it. How to do it: Tag the person Share what they taught you Share what you did next Ask your network, “What’s something YOU learned from someone this month?” You just gave free visibility, created a loop, and 10 people will want to talk to you after. 4. Turn Informational Chats into Co-Creation Networking chats often stop at “thanks for the time.” What if it didn’t? What to do: After the call, send a note: “Hey [Name], based on our chat about [topic], I drafted a small idea to build on your advice. Would love your thoughts!” Create a graphic, short write-up, or project plan (just 1 page!) Now you’re not just a student. You’re someone they collaborated with. That’s relationship-building, not just networking. 5. The 5-5-5 Strategy Most people get stuck on who to reach out to. Here’s a weekly formula: 5 People You Admire (Founders, creatives) 5 People From Your School Network (Alums, professors, guest speakers) 5 Peers Who Are Also Job Hunting (Build a support circle, swap leads) Message all 15. Repeat weekly. That’s 156 conversations in 3 months. You don’t “find” jobs—you build the path to them. Reminder: Networking isn’t about who has the fanciest title. It’s about who remembers you when an opportunity comes up. Be the person who listened, learned, shared, and followed up. If you’re reading this and job searching— try one new method this week. Not next month. Not when it feels “less scary.” Now. You’re not late. #May2025Grads #NetworkingTips #CreativeCareerMoves #JobSearchStrategy #InternationalStudents #GradJobHunt #BeyondTheResume #HumanConnection #Topmate

This post details how we went from having zero contacts at large brands to sourcing partnerships with execs at PolicyGenius, Instacart, SoFi, hims/hers, Ramp, TD Bank and more. I spent the first 10 years of my career on the publisher side, so we had a slight head start there. But when it came to sourcing brand deals, we started from zero. Whether you’re a founder, an SDR, or just trying to invest in your network, these 5 steps will get you there: 1 - Start with what you have. Look through your network for people tangentially related to your target industry. Literally sift through every current contact you have on LinkedIn. Ask them for coffee. Pick their brain. I was learning about the PR industry in parallel with building my network - each meeting helped form our roadmap, while also building a network. People like helping people, but they don’t want to feel used. Be genuinely curious. Do this at least 10 times^. Step outside your comfort zone. If 100% of people say yes, you aren’t asking enough people for coffee. 2 - Parlay into more conversations. Every conversation should end with “who else should I meet with?” If you're charming and your goals are clear, this will lead to new conversations. Follow up (show them you listened), but don’t be a PITA. Networking is a long game, don’t bug them every 3 days. At this stage you are planting seeds, not picking flowers. 3 - Ask for feedback, not sales. No one wants to be sold, but everyone wants to feel like their opinion matters. Don’t lead with “wondering if they’d be interested in our product,” but instead “I want to get their feedback on what we’re doing.” This will make you 10x more likely to land meetings. 4 - Create Content. My posting on LinkedIn has directly led to over 20 deals for Stacker. But they did not come from people sliding into my dms with “hey can we work with you?” It was through connecting with interesting people in the space, them evangelizing what we do, and 2 months later introducing me to someone that they thought could be a client. If you plant enough seeds, some will turn into fruit. Editor’s note - do this yourself. People can tell when you’ve paid someone to write for you, and it’s turning into a huge turn off. I think if I paid an agency to write my content, I’d have twice as many followers, but half as many meaningful deals coming through. 5 - Nurture. Just because a conversation doesn’t end with “wow I should intro you to this potential client” doesn’t mean it won’t be valuable long term. People like to help people that they like. So cultivate relationships, put out into the world what you’re seeking, and trust that its a process. This post is about building a network that will reap deals over the mid to long term. These are not tips for how to close deals next week. Is it frustrating that this takes time? Sure. But I guarantee that if you start today, you’ll be in a much better place a year from now. Building a network is a snowball - gotta start somewhere.

Most people treat networking like a numbers game. Send 100 messages. Hope one sticks. That’s not how my clients get into Google, Meta, or Stripe. Here’s the strategy I teach and it works because it’s human. 1. Get specific. Pick a few companies you’re excited about. Find people actually working on the teams you want to join. 2. Start the conversation the right way. Don’t lead with “Can you refer me?” Comment on their work. Ask a real question. Share something you’ve learned from their content. Show you’ve done your homework. 3. Make it easy to help you. Once there’s some connection, send a short message explaining why you’re interested and how your background aligns. Keep it tight and forwardable. This is the exact strategy that’s helped my clients land roles in some of the most competitive teams in tech. Because it’s not about chasing people. It’s about building real momentum one thoughtful message at a time.

A Simple, 7-Step Networking Strategy (Anyone Can Use!): 1. Networking, How Do You Even Start? Of all the job search challenges, networking can be the toughest. What do you say to a total stranger that will get them to reply? And how do you keep the conversation going after? I developed the “Advice Triangle Strategy” to help solve for each of those things. Here’s how it works: 2. Find A Contact A Few Steps Ahead Identify someone you want to network with who is a few steps ahead of you on the journey. “A few steps” can mean anything from:  - Has successfully made a transition you’re trying to make  - Is working in a job you aspire to work in  - Has more expertise / experience in a skill than you do 3. Reach Out And Ask For Advice With 2 Options Reach out to them using the following framework:  - Mention finding their info on LinkedIn  - Position them as an expert (call out experience, etc)  - Share your goals for leveling up  - Ask them if you should take “Action A” or “Action B” 4. Example Advice Triangle Message “Hey Austin, I came across your profile while I was looking for people who transitioned from healthcare to tech. Your experience going from medical devices to Microsoft really stood out to me. I’m looking to make a similar switch and am building my skills in tech sales. If you don’t mind me asking, would you recommend: A) Taking Hubspot’s digital sales course B) Getting certified in Salesforce” I know you’re busy so simply replying with A or B would be immensely helpful! 5. Take Action And Report Back When someone replies with a recommended action? Go take that action! When you’re done, follow up with them letting them know:  - You appreciated their advice  - You took action on it  - You learned X, Y, and Z Then Ask For More Advice! 6. Continue To Repeat The Cycle Now you’ve created a cycle where you always know the next step: - Ask For Advice - Take Action On The Advice - Report Back And Ask For More Advice Why does this work so well? 7. Why This Works So Well This strategy is crazy effective for several reasons:  - Offering two options makes it easy to reply to  - It positions you as someone who is worth investing in  - You’re actively skill building while you network  - You always have the door open for the next step in progressing the relationship Happy networking!

Lately I’ve been having lots of conversations with early-stage job seekers, who are pursuing various roles in technology. I thought I would summarize a few of my top tips below, if this is helpful for anyone out there. And for my experienced tech professional network, if you have additional top tips of your own, please add them below in the comments! 1. Intentional, continuous networking: I recommend LinkedIn for this because it’s so easy, but use whatever method you like best. The point here is to connect with everyone you come across in a professional or educational setting: internship peers, professors, or interesting people you meet at events. Aside from the opportunity to get immersed in the relevant content they’re engaging in, you never know when you might want to reach out to that person about a job, tips for a certain career, or for an introduction to someone in their network. 2. Look for opportunities to set yourself apart from the crowd: If you are looking for a job in a certain field but you don’t have a lot of past work experience in that area, don’t despair. Seek out experiences that you can use to educate yourself and demonstrate your motivation to a future interviewer. This could mean things like volunteering in a relevant nonprofit position, or taking an online specialty class. 3. Spend serious time perfecting your resume: Your resume is your one-page opportunity to impress a recruiter who is looking at many other qualified candidates too, and getting it right will take time. Don’t just list the things you were responsible for, tell people specifically what you did, how you measured it, and what the results were. Tailor your resume to each position you apply for, showcasing how you are a fit for those specific job requirements. And finally, ask others in your network - and/or AI - to review it and give you feedback! 4. Cold outreach: Done well, cold outreach can be effective! When sending a “cold” note to someone you don’t know, personalize your note with specifics about why you’re contacting that person, how you think they might be able to help you, and what you are asking for. Don’t ask them if they have any jobs open at their company, if a public career site exists. A better approach might be to send a link to a specific open role that looks like it might be a fit with your background, and ask if you can get time on their calendar to discuss something specific, like what it’s like working at that particular company. 5. Don’t stress about finding your “dream job” now: Your first job out of school may not be your dream job, and that’s okay. My advice is to just focus on a job that will give you great experience as a stepping stone for the direction you want to go. Early in your career is a great time to experiment a little with what you think you want to do, and adjust as you learn what you do and don’t enjoy. Good luck out there! #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #JobHunt #CareerTips #JobSearchTips #JobSeeker