6 Proven Networking Methods
There's no single "right" way to network. Try a few of these and see what feels natural for you.
Alumni Network
40-60% response rateYour most powerful resource. Alumni are significantly more likely to respond to fellow graduates.
- Use LinkedIn's alumni search: School → Alumni → Filter by company/location
- Attend alumni events (virtual and in-person)
- Request alumni contacts through your career services office
- Join your school's alumni LinkedIn group
Best for: First networking attempts, warm introductions
Industry Events & Conferences
High engagement in-personMeet professionals face-to-face. Quality over quantity - focus on meaningful conversations.
- Research speakers and attendees beforehand
- Prepare 2-3 conversation starters
- Arrive early to network before sessions
- Follow up within 24 hours with personalized messages
Best for: Building relationships, learning industry trends
Informational Interviews
30-50% response rate15-30 minute conversations to learn about careers, not to ask for jobs. The most effective networking method.
- Be clear about what you want to learn
- Prepare 8-10 thoughtful questions
- Never ask for a job directly
- Always ask for 2-3 more people to talk to
Best for: Career exploration, getting referrals
LinkedIn Engagement
Builds long-term visibilityBuild your presence by engaging authentically. Comment, share, and create content.
- Comment thoughtfully on 3-5 posts daily
- Share industry articles with your insights
- Congratulate connections on achievements
- Post your own content 1-2x per week
Best for: Building online presence, staying top of mind
Company Employee Outreach
15-25% response rateReach out directly to employees at target companies. Focus on people in roles you're interested in.
- Find employees via LinkedIn company page
- Look for shared connections or backgrounds
- Keep initial message short (3-4 sentences)
- Offer flexibility on timing
Best for: Learning about specific companies
Professional Associations
Members more likely to help fellow membersJoin industry groups for access to events, job boards, and member directories.
- Many offer student/new grad discounts
- Volunteer for committees to meet leaders
- Attend local chapter events
- Use member directories for outreach
Best for: Industry-specific networking
Craft Your 30-Second Elevator Pitch
Your elevator pitch is your verbal business card. Practice until it feels natural, not rehearsed.
Hook
Grab attention with who you are
"Hi, I'm Sarah Chen, a senior at NYU studying Computer Science."
Background
Relevant experience that establishes credibility
"I've completed internships at two tech startups where I built full-stack features used by thousands of users, and I led a team project that won our school's hackathon."
Interest
What you're excited about and looking for
"I'm particularly passionate about consumer products and I'm exploring product engineering roles at companies building tools that impact daily life."
Ask
Clear, specific request that invites dialogue
"I'd love to hear about your journey at Spotify and any advice for someone starting their career in tech."
Complete Example (30 seconds)
"Hi, I'm Sarah Chen, a senior at NYU studying Computer Science. I've completed internships at two tech startups where I built full-stack features used by thousands of users, and I led a team project that won our school's hackathon. I'm particularly passionate about consumer products and I'm exploring product engineering roles at companies building tools that impact daily life. I'd love to hear about your journey at Spotify and any advice for someone starting their career in tech."
Cold Email Templates That Get Responses
Proven templates for different networking scenarios. Click to expand and copy.
Networking Do's and Don'ts
Do's
- Be genuinely curious about others' experiences
- Prepare a clear, practiced elevator pitch
- Offer help before asking for anything
- Follow up within 24-48 hours
- Keep connections warm with periodic updates
- Ask for introductions to expand your network
- Research people before reaching out
- Be specific about what you're asking for
Don'ts
- Ask for a job or referral on first contact
- Only reach out when you need something
- Send generic copy-paste messages
- Contact the same person repeatedly
- Ignore responses or fail to follow through
- Be overly self-promotional
- Expect immediate results
- Burn bridges - industries are small
Frequently Asked Questions
QHow do I network if I'm introverted?
Networking doesn't have to mean working a room. Focus on one-on-one conversations, which introverts often excel at. Use email and LinkedIn for initial outreach. Prepare talking points in advance. Quality matters more than quantity - aim for a few meaningful connections rather than many superficial ones.
QHow many people should I reach out to?
Aim for 5-10 outreach messages per week. Expect a 20-30% response rate for warm contacts (alumni, mutual connections) and 10-15% for cold outreach. Track your outreach in a spreadsheet to stay organized and follow up appropriately.
QWhat if someone doesn't respond?
Don't take it personally - people are busy. Send ONE follow-up after 5-7 days. If still no response, move on. Never follow up more than once. Some people will respond weeks or months later, so keep your message professional.
QHow do I maintain my network long-term?
Set reminders to check in every 3-6 months. Share relevant articles or congratulate them on achievements. Update them on your progress. Offer help when you can. The goal is to build genuine relationships, not transactional ones.
QIs it okay to reach out to someone I don't know?
Absolutely! Cold outreach is normal and expected in professional networking. The key is to be respectful, specific about why you're reaching out, and make it easy for them to help. Most professionals remember being in your position and are happy to pay it forward.
QHow do I ask for a referral?
Never ask for a referral on first contact. Build the relationship first through informational interviews. After 2-3 positive interactions, you can ask: 'I'm applying to [role] at [company]. Based on our conversations, would you feel comfortable referring me?' Give them an easy out and don't pressure them.