How Non-Toxic Networking Helps You Land a Job

Networking is crucial in getting closer to a dream job offer. How do you find balance in networking with persistence but care? 

"It’s not easy to immediately address some random person on LinkedIn and say: ‘Hey, I want to work for you. Can you take a look at my resume?’ We give students templates on how to write to employers and let them know you’re interested in the company. Find some common ground and share that in the intro. Say you are the same college alumni or have worked for their past employer’s competitor," shares Anastasia Cherepanova, TripleTen Career Product Lead.

You should always start with small talk. Anastasia Cherepanova, TripleTen Career Product Lead

You only have one chance to make a first impression. That’s why our editors have  collected the best tips on writing to professionals and getting a referral.

Follow these useful tips to learn more about successful networking on LinkedIn.

Find a good reason

Stay calm and act confident. Even if you don’t personally know someone on LinkedIn, it’s okay to contact them - as long as you have a good reason. 

Example of a good reason: “I want to learn more about your recent contribution.”
Example of a questionable reason: “I am looking for a job, please help!”

Keep a positive attitude

A warm and positive vibe is important when establishing or developing new connections on LinkedIn. Make sure your message is professional and concise to let the recipient know you’re sincerely interested in them. 

Use conditional sentences (“could you” instead of “can”), conclusions (“when you have time”, “when convenient”), and thankful expressions (“thanks for your time.”)
Don’t use abbreviations and abundant informal speech (“yeah”, “ok”, “idk”), or too much information about yourself (Ask questions, don’t write your bio.)

Be patient, not pushy

Let people take their time and be patient with their replies. Send a delicate follow-up message after three days of not hearing back. 

Don’t postpone replies

So, you have received a response. Congratulations! Don’t put off expressing your gratitude. Even if your answer is short, you can’t go wrong with a simple “thank you”. Check your vocabulary and punctuation. Perhaps, the other party uses emojis or keeps a personal distance using formal expressions. Continue the dialogue in the same manner. 

Give before you get

Ask yourself: how would you feel and would you be eager to interact with some stranger who demands that you help them? The answer is probably ‘no’. That’s why adding an offer of help to your message is a good way to start. 

These crucial points help you build non-toxic networking. Don’t just take - let mutual benefit and success drive you to contact new people. Think of networking as "relationship building", meaning a sincere and continual desire to enlarge your circle of contacts that will help promote your career, inspire and motivate you to grow.