Most people hate networking. It feels transactional, uncomfortable, and vaguely desperate — especially when you're job hunting. The bad news: up to 80% of jobs are filled through personal connections, often before they're ever posted publicly. The good news: networking doesn't have to feel like networking.

Here's a genuine, practical playbook for building job-search connections without the sleaze.

Start with who you already know

The strongest leads come from people who already know and trust you — not strangers you cold-email on LinkedIn. Start your outreach with:

• Former colleagues — people you've worked alongside, even briefly
• Former managers — especially those who valued your work
• College or university connections — alumni networks are powerful and under-used
• Industry peers — people you've met at conferences, online communities, or professional associations

A simple message to a former colleague: "Hey [Name], hope things are going well. I'm currently exploring new opportunities in [field] and thought of you — would love to catch up and hear what you've been up to. Would a quick call work in the next week or two?"

That's it. No asking for a job. Just reconnecting.

The warm-to-referral pipeline

The most effective networking path to a job looks like this:

1. Reconnect with a former colleague or peer
2. Catch up genuinely — ask about their work, their company, their experience
3. Share what you're looking for — briefly and specifically (e.g., "I'm targeting product management roles at mid-size SaaS companies")
4. Ask for their thoughts — "Do you know anyone doing interesting work in that space I should talk to?"

You're asking for introductions, not jobs. This creates far more goodwill — and far more leads.

How to do cold outreach properly

If you want to connect with someone you don't know, make the message about them, not you:

Bad: "Hi, I'm looking for a job in marketing. Could you refer me or let me know of any openings?"

Good: "Hi [Name], I've been following your work on [specific topic/article/company initiative]. I'm a marketing professional pivoting into B2B content strategy and would love 15 minutes to hear about your experience at [Company] — completely understand if you're too busy."

Be specific. Be brief. Ask for a conversation, not a job. And always give them an easy out.

Informational interviews

An informational interview is a 20-minute call where you ask someone about their career, their company, or their industry — not for a job. These conversations accomplish two things: you get real intelligence about the market, and you create a relationship with someone inside a company you care about.

The ask: "I'm not asking for a job or a referral — I'm just trying to understand how [company type] teams work. Would you be open to a 20-minute call?"

A surprisingly high percentage of people will say yes.

Use LinkedIn to find second-degree connections

Search for a company you're interested in on LinkedIn. Filter connections by "2nd degree." Find people who are connected to someone you know, and ask for a warm introduction:

"Hey [mutual connection], I noticed you're connected to [target person] at [company]. I've been researching [company] seriously and would love an intro if you know them well enough. Totally fine if not!"

A warm introduction converts dramatically better than cold outreach.

The one thing most people skip: follow up

After every networking conversation, send a follow-up within 24 hours thanking them for their time and noting one specific thing you found valuable. Then stay in touch — share an article they might like, congratulate them on a career update, or reach out every few months just to check in.

Relationships that produce job opportunities aren't built in a single conversation. They're built over time with consistent, low-effort touches.

Networking gets you in the door. Your resume closes the deal. Make sure yours is ready when that referral comes through. Build your resume with CVSHA →