Transform Your Networking Skills: 5 Steps to Building Powerful Connections for Recruitment Season

I was an international student, a first-generation immigrant woman trying to break into tech just two years ago. Now, I am interning at Oracle and have had the opportunity to interview with companies like LinkedIn, Adobe, Oracle, Amazon, and NVIDIA. These five steps also benefited me tremendously at the Grace Hopper Conference, where I was able to achieve more learning opportunities and interviews. I would like to highlight the fact that it was particularly difficult for me to figure out how to network because of the language barrier and lack of knowledge of cultural norms and recruitment hacks. Yet, I was able to overcome these obstacles, mastering the art of networking and transforming it into a powerful tool that opened doors I once thought were out of reach.

All of these points are interconnected and woven together, so I recommend reading them sequentially :)

1. Do not talk about yourself

I cannot stress this enough! If you start off by talking about yourself, you are the same as every other person who has talked to the recruiter up to that point. The time you are getting with a recruiter/employee is precious, limited, and yours. Let that sink in!

You truly have all the power to dictate how you want to spend the one minute you have with the recruiter. If you only talk about yourself and try to sell yourself, you are going to gain nothing. Instead, ask about the person’s role in the company, their experiences with the company, and what they have to say about the company and the learning opportunities it provides. So many times, I have seen people say “hi” to the recruiter and then directly giving their “elevator pitch” for the next thirty seconds. In my opinion, no recruiter has had an enthusiastic reaction to that approach.

Remember that you want to come across as someone who knows what they want and is not hesitant to work for it. Knowing what you want and asking questions accordingly is so important. It not only shows that you are curious about their company but also that you know you will be a valuable addition to their team, and the recruiters should want to get to know you too.

Now, let’s talk about what kind of questions you can ask specifically.

2. Why do you want to work for that company?

Do your homework! If you are approaching a recruiter or employee from a company that you want to work for simply because you want a job, you are wasting your time. You’d be better off not talking to them at all. No matter how much you try, you will come across as someone who is not interested in their company at all. Thus, knowing exactly what you want and what you like about the company is crucial.

Doing your research and challenging yourself to find new things about the company will help you tremendously. This will help you phrase questions in a way that shows your interests, passions, and strengths. For example, I am particularly interested in Machine Learning. Knowing about a company’s recent advancements in ML and Gen AI and how they are shaping their policies is crucial for me to understand the company’s priorities better. Consequently, many of my projects are ML-based. This gives me the perfect opportunity to say something like, “_____ from your company inspired me to create this project of mine that also did ____.”

3. Pick out 2 things you are good at and 2 things you want to further improve/get opportunities for

You want to present yourself as someone who isn’t just good but wants to continue being good. You can’t just point out your strengths. In the conversation, you also want to talk about things that you want to improve or get opportunities for. This demonstrates self-awareness and a commitment to growth, which are highly valued traits.

When identifying your strengths, focus on skills or achievements that align with the company’s needs. For example, if you’re good at coding and project management, highlight these in your discussions, showing how these strengths can benefit the company. For areas of improvement, choose aspects that are relevant to your desired role. If you want to improve your public speaking skills or learn more about a specific technology, mention these. It shows that you are proactive in your self-development and eager to grow within the company.

4. Be good on paper but even better in-person

Your resume is not you. If you don’t have anything to say about yourself outside of your resume, don’t approach the recruiter. But you shouldn’t talk about unrelated passions either, like scuba diving. You want to talk about the “why” factor here. Why are you interested in the industry? What made you want to come here? Why do you want to work for this company? This shows depth and genuine interest, making you more memorable.

In addition to your resume, prepare stories that highlight your experiences and skills. These stories should reflect your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and leadership. When discussing your interest in the industry or company, connect it to your personal journey. For instance, if a specific project sparked your interest in tech, share that story. This personal touch can make a strong impression.

5. Make one unique connection and reach back out!

If you follow the above four steps as outlined, you should have something unique that was brought up in the conversation to reach back out with. Note that down and immediately send a follow-up. If you were able to leave a lasting impression on them and rejuvenate their interest, chances are, they are looking forward to connecting with you too.

When you follow up, reference the unique point of connection from your conversation. For example, if you discussed a particular project or shared a common interest, mention it in your follow-up email. This not only reminds them of who you are but also reinforces the connection you made. Additionally, express your gratitude for their time and any insights they shared. This shows professionalism and keeps the door open for future interactions.

Ultimately, networking is all about what you put into the process. It is not just about what you do during the conversation; it is also about the preparation you put in outside of it. The more effort you invest in understanding the company, preparing insightful questions, and presenting yourself as a well-rounded candidate, the more fruitful your networking will be. At the end of the day, be genuine and be curious. Authenticity and a sincere interest in others are key to building meaningful connections that can open doors and create lasting opportunities.