How I got a job through networking on LinkedIn: the ultimate guide (with templates)
Are you tired of the job hunt? You’re not alone in thinking it’s extremely exhausting to constantly put yourself out there, to have to smile through interviews, then in turn not get the offer. Or, even worse, get ghosted by recruiters.
With the job market getting increasingly competitive, it’s more important now than ever to leverage the power of networking. Even though it can be a bit unnatural to reach out to people cold, LinkedIn is a great channel to expand your network and get job offers.
I’m Kristine, a brand strategist in New York City. Through my experience of reaching out to people and having people reach out to me, I’ve summarized a few methods that I think are most effective in networking on LinkedIn to land a job.
This video has also been filmed as a video, if that’s your preferred medium
Networking on LinkedIn: Three Reasons to Connect
The job market is competitive, and sometimes a little crazy. But there are three main reasons you might want to connect with someone on LinkedIn:
- They’re working your dream job: For me, I admired people that were a senior strategist or director of strategy. That was the role I wanted to be in a few years. Depending on where you want to be in a few years, the title will vary. Reach out to those individuals could allow you to learn from their experience. You can also see if that’s the path and day-to-day you want for yourself in a few years.
- They work at a company you love: Sometimes it might be hard to find people working in the role you want to be in. Or, you might still be trying to figure out the role you’re interested in. In that case, you may consider reaching out to people that work within the specific company to learn more about the company operations and its success.
- They’re the hiring manager: Sometimes, you might find the hiring manager for the exact role you’re recruiting for. It may be because they are associated with the job posting on LinkedIn, or that they’ve posted about it on their page. In this case, you may be reaching out to the person that may become your manager.
Reaching Out: Personalized Messages & Targeting
Regardless of the reason that you’re reaching out, generic connection requests often get ignored. Be thoughtful and personalize your connection request with a short message about yourself, explain why you’re connecting, and maybe mention something specific about their profile that caught your eye.
Reaching out to someone in your dream job:
This can be pursued in two ways, one is reaching out to the person directly. The other is to consider reaching out to a key opinion leader (KOL) in the space.
A template example for reaching out to them directly can look like the below:
It’s clear that they want to understand my experience in becoming a brand strategist, and also provided a small introduction to themselves. This message is short and sweet. In my opinion, it’s just right for reaching out to someone to chat to learn more.
Or, you might consider reaching out to a key opinion leader because they have a wider network than yours. It might seem like a roundabout way of getting to know someone, but it can be easier to solicit a response from a KOL as they’re more active on the platform.
Below is an example in which a KOL has reached out to me, introducing a student they’re in touch with:
Reaching out to someone in your dream company:
It can be hard to ask for a referral directly or to get someone to talk about their company to you. They don’t know you. They’re not HR. It’s not part of their job to do this. My advice is again to make things personal. Talk about how you’re interested in their career path, but also make it clear you’re interested in their specific company.
To make the conversation more personal to them, consider asking them about industry trends or their opinions on a related topic. The conversations that have stood out to me over the years have been ones that have successfully gotten me thinking. Save questions like “what’s the day to day like?” “what’s the team make up?” or “what’s the company culture like?” for HR.
Reaching out to the hiring manager:
This can be the most exciting and nerve-racking. You may be looking at your way into the job of your dreams, or this may be the end of it.
I’d highly recommend you to craft a thoughtful InMail, similar to what you would put in a cover letter. Make it clear why you deliver on all the criteria they’re looking for and give them a straight-cut answer as to why they should hire you.
Below is an example of my personal message at the time, after which I successfully got the offer.
In the message, I listed out 3 clear reasons as to why I am a good fit. Two of which are hard skills, and one mentioning soft skills. For each point, I also lay out hard evidence of how I’ve showcased those skills and attributes in my academic and professional experience. At the end, I wrap out by attaching my resume for them to browse through. Though this is not the only way of how a LinkedIn InMail or cover letter can be written, I’ve found this structure to be extremely effective.
Additional tips to networking
Show appreciation
Remember, you’re taking their time. Always be appreciative and show your appreciation whenever possible. Thank them for connecㄏting and for any advice they offer. Consider buying their coffee as a form of appreciation.
Keep in touch
Following up and keeping top of mind is key. Let them know how you used their advice or how your conversation went (if you had one). It helps keep the connection going and show that you’re genuinely interested in meeting them, not just for information or for a foot in their company.
By following these tips, you can transform LinkedIn from a job hunt and job application website into a powerful tool for connecting with professionals, learning about new opportunities, and landing your dream job.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts in the comments. Hope the job hunt goes well!
