Networking for a job means telling the right people what you are looking for and asking each of them for something small and specific: information first, an introduction second, a referral only when it fits. Start with people who already know you, move outward to acquaintances and former colleagues, and then contact people you have never met.
You do not need to be outgoing. You need a list, a few short messages and the habit of following up.
Key takeaways
- Ask for information and advice before anything else. It is easy to say yes to, and it leads naturally to introductions and referrals.
- Do not skip acquaintances. A large LinkedIn experiment published in the journal Science in 2022 found that moderately weak ties were the most useful connections for moving to a new job.
- Keep every message short: who you are, why you are writing to this person, one small request, and an easy way to decline.
- Follow up once after about a week and once more a week later, then stop.
- Give back. Thank people, tell them what happened, and pass on anything that helps them.
01
Who to contact first
Write the list before you write any messages. Thirty to fifty names is a realistic start, and most people have more than they expect once they look beyond close friends.
| Circle | Who is in it | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Close contacts | Family, friends, close colleagues, mentors, professors and advisers | Ideas, names of people to talk to, an honest read of your resume |
| Acquaintances | Former coworkers and managers, classmates, alumni, neighbors, friends of friends, people from clubs or past projects | What their employer or field is like, and introductions |
| New contacts | People doing the job you want, staff at the companies you are targeting, recruiters | Fifteen to twenty minutes of advice |
Work through the circles in order, but do not stay in the first one. The people closest to you mostly know what you already know.
02
Why acquaintances matter more than you expect
The best evidence comes from LinkedIn itself. From 2015 to 2019, LinkedIn varied its “People You May Know” suggestions for around 20 million users, showing some people more contacts with whom they had strong ties and others more with weak ties. Over five years those users created about 2 billion new connections and accepted 600,000 new jobs. Researchers from LinkedIn, MIT, Harvard and Stanford analyzed the results.
Their paper, published in Science in 2022, found that the stronger a newly added tie was, the less likely it was to lead to a job. The most useful connections were moderately weak ones, in the words of co-author Sinan Aral “not the weakest, but slightly stronger than the weakest,” with the turning point at around ten mutual connections. Weak ties mattered most in more digital industries.
The practical lesson is to reconnect with people you half know. A former teammate, a classmate from another department or a friend’s colleague moves in different circles from you and hears about different openings.
03
What to ask for, in order
- Information. What is the work really like? How does the team hire?
- Advice. Does my target make sense? What would you change about my approach?
- Introductions. Who else should I talk to?
- A referral. Only when there is a specific opening, and only from someone who knows your work or has talked with you enough to vouch for you.
Avoid opening with “Do you know of any jobs?” It has a one-word answer, and the answer is usually no. The University of Illinois career center makes the same point: networking works best when you focus on getting advice from a person’s experience instead of asking for something like a job. A conversation set up to gather advice is an informational interview, and that guide has the questions to bring.
04
Outreach templates you can adapt
Keep messages under about 100 words. Give them a subject line that says what you want, and make it easy to say no.
Subject: Looking for [job title] roles - could I get your advice? Hi [Name], I'm starting to look for [job title] roles in [industry or city], ideally at [type of employer]. You know [field / these companies / me] well. Could I get 15 minutes this week to hear what you'd do in my position? I'd also be grateful for the names of one or two people worth talking to. Thanks, [Your name]
Subject: Hello from [where you know each other] Hi [Name], It's been a while since [shared project, class or workplace]. I saw that you're now at [company], and it looks like a good move. I'm exploring [job title] roles and [company / your field] is on my list. Would you be open to a 15-minute call so I can ask what it's like there? No problem at all if the timing is bad. Best, [Your name]
Subject: [Shared school / field / interest]: a quick question about [their role or company] Hi [Name], I'm a [your role or situation] and found your profile while researching [role or company]. Your move from [their earlier role] to [current role] is close to the path I'm considering. Would you have 15 minutes in the next two weeks for a few questions about how you made that change? I'd work around your schedule. Thank you, [Your name]
Subject: Referral for [job title] at [company]? Hi [Name], [Company] has posted a [job title] role that matches my background in [two or three specifics]: [link]. Would you be comfortable referring me? I've attached my resume and a three-line summary you can forward. If you'd rather not, I completely understand, and I'd still value any advice about the team. Thanks, [Your name]
On LinkedIn, space is tighter. A note added to a connection request can be up to 200 characters, and members without Premium can add a note to only three requests a month, so save them for the people who matter most.
Hi [Name], I'm a fellow [school] grad exploring [field]. Your path from [role] to [role] caught my eye. Could I ask you two quick questions?
A profile that explains who you are makes people more willing to reply. See LinkedIn profile tips before you send many requests. Reaching recruiters is a slightly different exercise, covered in how to message a recruiter.
05
A follow-up schedule
No reply is not necessarily a no. A light, predictable follow-up is polite.
| When | What to send |
|---|---|
| Within 24 to 48 hours of a conversation | A thank-you note naming one specific thing you learned |
| No reply after five to seven days | One short nudge on the same thread |
| No reply after another week | A final, friendly note. Then stop |
| Two to four weeks after a conversation | An update on what you did with their advice |
| Every two to three months | Something useful: an article, a congratulation, your news |
| When you accept a job | A note to everyone who helped |
Hi [Name], I wanted to bring my note from last week back to the top of your inbox. I know you're busy, so even a short reply or a pointer to someone else would be a great help. Thanks again, [Your name]
Keep a simple spreadsheet with each person’s name, how you know them, the date of your last contact and the next step. Without it, follow-ups get forgotten and people get asked the same thing twice.
06
How to give back
Networking that only takes wears out quickly. You have more to offer than you think, even early in a career.
- Report back. Tell people what happened after you took their advice. It is the best thanks you can give.
- Share what you learn. Pass on openings, events and articles to people they would suit.
- Make introductions, and ask both people first.
- Offer your skills. Proofread, test, translate or give feedback from a user’s point of view.
- Vouch for others. Write a recommendation or agree to be one of someone’s job references.
- Answer when someone asks you. Next year’s job seeker will be writing to you.
All of this sits inside a wider search. How to find a job shows how conversations fit alongside applications.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I network for a job if I don’t know anyone?
You know more people than you think. List classmates, former coworkers, teachers, neighbors and friends of friends, and start there. Then write to people you have never met with a specific reason for choosing them and a request for fifteen minutes of advice. Alumni of your school are often willing to help.
What do you say when networking for a job?
Say who you are, why you are writing to this person in particular, and ask for one small thing, usually a short conversation or a piece of advice. Keep it under about 100 words and make it easy to decline. Do not ask for a job in the first message.
Is it OK to ask for a job referral?
Yes, when there is a specific opening and the person knows your work or has spoken with you enough to vouch for you. Send the link, your resume and a few lines they can forward, and make it clear they can say no. Ask for advice instead if you have only just met.
How often should I follow up with a networking contact?
Send one follow-up after five to seven days without a reply and a final one a week later, then stop. After a conversation, send thanks within a day or two and an update a few weeks later on what you did with the advice.
Does networking actually help you get a job?
There is good evidence that connections matter. A five-year experiment with around 20 million LinkedIn users, published in Science in 2022, found that the connections people added affected their chances of moving to a new job, and that moderately weak ties were the most useful. Be skeptical of precise claims about what share of jobs are filled through networking, which are rarely sourced.
Sources
- MIT News: The power of weak ties in gaining new employment: the design, scale and findings of the LinkedIn weak-ties experiment published in Science.
- University of Illinois Career Center: Building a Professional Network: who belongs in a network, asking for advice instead of a job, and thank-you timing.
- Georgia Tech Career Center: Undergraduate Networking and Outreach: thank-you timing and tracking contacts in a spreadsheet.
- LinkedIn Help: Personalize invitations to connect: the character limit and monthly limit on notes added to connection requests.
Published by Jobbie and last updated on October 6, 2026. This guide is general information for job seekers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.