Networking tips: how to build relationships that actually help your career.
Good networking is not collecting contacts or pitching strangers. It is a steady habit of useful, specific conversations with people who share your field, and it starts with people who already know you.
Start with people who already know you, ask for advice rather than a job, make every request specific and easy to answer, and follow up with thanks and an update. Aim for a few genuine conversations each week, not a crowd of new connections. At events, ask questions and listen more than you talk. Offer help back whenever you can: introductions, articles, a recommendation.
How networking works in a search
Warm before cold
Former colleagues, managers, classmates and clients already trust you. They are the quickest route to referrals and introductions.
Advice, not a job
'Could I ask how you moved into product?' is easy to say yes to. 'Can you get me a job?' is not.
Specific asks
Name the role, company type or person you'd like to meet. Specific requests get specific help.
About the 'most jobs come through networking' claim
You'll see precise-sounding figures about how many jobs are found through networking. We haven't found a reliable source for them, so we don't repeat them. What is clear is that referrals and conversations can surface roles and get applications read.
Give back
Share an article, make an introduction, endorse someone's work. Networks are built on two-way help.
A weekly networking habit
- List 20 people who know your work.
- Message three to five of them each week with a specific question.
- Ask each person who else you should talk to.
- Send a thank-you within a day, and an update when something changes.
- Go to one event or online community session a month in your field.
3 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you use anything.
Reconnect with a former colleague
When to use: To someone you haven't spoken to in a while.
Hi [Name], I was thinking about our time on [project] at [Company] and hope things are going well at [their company]. I'm exploring [type of role] and would value your perspective on [specific question]. Would you be up for a 15-minute call in the next couple of weeks? [Your name]
Ask for an introduction
When to use: When a contact knows someone you'd like to meet.
Hi [Name], thanks again for the advice last week. You mentioned [Person] leads [team] at [Company]. Would you be comfortable introducing us? I'd like to ask how they think about [topic]. Here's a short note you could forward: [two-line summary of you]. Thank you!
After an event
When to use: Within two days of meeting someone.
Hi [Name], it was great to meet you at [event] on [day]. I enjoyed your point about [topic]. I'd love to keep in touch, and if you're open to it, ask you a couple of questions about [area] sometime. Best, [Your name]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Who to contact and how
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Former colleagues and managers | Start here, with a specific ask. |
| Alumni of your school | Advice conversations; mention the shared school. |
| People at target companies | Ask about the team and what it values, not for a job. |
| Event contacts | Follow up within two days. |
| Recruiters | See how to find a recruiter. |
The same move, done two ways
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Hi, I'm looking for a job. Do you have any openings? |
| Strong | Hi Sam, I saw you moved from teaching into instructional design. I'm considering the same path; could I ask how you built your first portfolio? |
Why it matters: The strong message is specific, flattering in an honest way, and easy to answer in a few minutes.
Mistakes to avoid
- Asking strangers for a job in the first message.
- Sending long messages with your full life story.
- Never following up after a helpful conversation.
- Only networking when you need something.
Keep going
Questions people ask
How do I start networking with no contacts?
Is networking just asking for jobs?
Is it true that most jobs are found through networking?
How often should I network during a job search?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The steps, scripts and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates, success rates or shares of employers, and every example uses fictional details.
- How a specific employer, recruiter or manager will act: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, background-check disputes, pay classification or a termination, talk to an employment attorney, the U.S. Department of Labor or your state agency.
- Outcomes: no message, plan or program can promise an interview, a raise or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.