Career experts say professional networking can help job seekers get noticed even as employers increasingly rely on automated application screening tools.
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Online applications make it easier to apply for jobs, but experts say they don’t always make it easier to stand out when employers use automated screening tools to evaluate large numbers of applicants.
Catherine Fisher, vice president of communications and a career expert at LinkedIn, said networking “is important whether you’re searching for a job or not,” adding that it “does set you apart and give you an edge.”
Experts also said people often don’t realize how to build professional connections, and that relationship-building increasingly happens through online communities, social media platforms and virtual meetings as well as in-person events.
Rekius McGee, 24, said the shift toward remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced opportunities for people entering the workforce around that time to form connections naturally. He said he has attended virtual job fairs and reached out to college alumni and recruiters on LinkedIn and Handshake.
After interviews that did not result in job offers, McGee said he stayed in touch to build his professional circle and monitors contacts’ career boards. He said that when he sees a position, he may ask before applying or approach after applying by asking the interviewer to review whether he is a qualified candidate.
Matt Berndt, head career strategist at job-matching platform Indeed, said a common networking mistake is approaching it transactionally by reaching out only when someone needs help. Instead, he advised reaching out for specific career information or advice before asking for job leads.
Berndt suggested messaging examples that invite contacts to draw on their own experience, such as asking how a field differs or similar when considering a career shift, or asking about the job market and compensation if relocating.
Nisha Chittal, chief of staff at the news and opinion website Vox, advised keeping initial messages tight and direct, saying she has received many messages from people looking for work. She also recommended avoiding overly vague inquiries about “upcoming opportunities” and, when possible, asking whether a contact has or knows of openings for a specific position.
Chittal said it can be harder to parse when a message includes a long, detailed background without clearly stating the request.
Fisher said asking for a short conversation can be easier to agree to than a longer time commitment, and she suggested reaching out by referencing the space a person works in or providing clear questions to discuss. She offered examples including what skills employers look for, what is unexpected about a role, and what someone starting out in the industry would do differently.
In addition, Fisher said if a person is open to a conversation, the arrangement can be decided together, whether by phone, on Zoom or in person.
Olivia Mast, 25, said she estimated applying for thousands of digital marketing jobs over two years. While she said rejections were difficult, she said her networking helped lead to a short-term role at a nonprofit where a college alumnus worked.
Mast said she had previously messaged the alumnus on LinkedIn with a shared connection and a request to chat, and that after she posted that she was looking for work, the alumnus messaged her about a temporary job. Mast recalled the message saying that if she wanted it, she should send her resume and it would likely be hers.
Mast also said networking does not always prevent automated rejections. She described applying for a job after a friend’s partner offered to recommend her, but said she received a rejection she believes came from an automated screening system.
Chittal said a quick rejection to an online application does not necessarily close the door on professional help and said personal recommendations can be valuable because recruiters receive many applications and may take an introduction more seriously.
She said it remains “a tough environment” for job seekers, and that making a personal connection can help stand out among hundreds of applicants for a job.
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