Networking for students and graduates — without being awkward
Warm paths beat cold applications — but networking is follow-through, not collecting LinkedIn connections.
Students hear "network" and picture conferences and small talk. For early-career hiring, networking is narrower: alumni from your program, classmates who interned last summer, lecturers who hire, and engineers who posted about their team online.
Goal is not a favour — it is information: what the team builds, how intern conversion works, which skills matter on day one.
Messages that get replies
Lead with context: your year, major, and one line why their path matters. Ask one question you cannot Google: "What surprised you about the grad program's first six months?" Keep it under 120 words. No resume attachment on first contact.
After a call or coffee chat, send a thank-you within 24 hours referencing one thing they said — then update your resume if they named a skill gap.
Campus channels that work
Career fairs: research ten booths, not fifty. Internship panels: ask one sharp question publicly, follow up privately. Society alumni lists and Discord servers often beat official portals for referrals.
When to ask for a referral
Only after you have applied officially (if required), match score is strong, and the contact knows your work or has seen your projects. Forward the job link, your tailored summary, and why you fit — make it easy to click "refer."