How I got a Referal by getting Strangled [Storytime Saturdays]

Stop going to Networking Events

Apr 24, 2022

Some of you might know this,

But online applications are a very risky gambit. Because of the sheer volume of applicants that go through every year, there’s a chance that your application gets lost in the noise. Having a ton of experience, and an awesome resume will help. But we want to stack the cards in your favor.

One way to significantly boost your chances is to have a killer LinkedIn profile. I already covered how you can set up your LinkedIn to make recruiters reach out to you in this post. As you will see, my profile setup attracts some really big names, who reach out to me. This makes getting past the initial screens much easier.

Another approach is to get referred to these companies. This is certainly a good idea (a lot of big tech hiring happens through referrals), but it has a flaw. You need to know someone in that firm to get referred. If you don’t know anybody, you’re out of luck.

Don’t even get me started on Networking events. Above is taken from a Harvard Business Review Article titled- **Don’t Waste Your Time on Networking Events**

The advice given in such situations is to cold text a person on LinkedIn, based on some arbitrary similarity (same university, your dog has the same name, etc etc). You play it cool, ask them for a coffee, and slip in the referral request. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work in practice. Remember, these people get a lot of requests for referrals. So why would they refer you, a LinkedIn stranger?

J is a Senior Developer in Microsoft, and someone I became good friends with. When I start looking for roles next year, I will definitely reach out to him.

Lucky for you, I will share a foolproof method you can use, to actually get referrals to top firms, and truly build an impressive Network.

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Step 1: Engage online with the right people.

This is the simplest thing you can do to level up your career. Just follow the correct people, and networking will become much easier.

Since most of these are looking for immediate hires, I have to say no. Which is why I share these postings on my social media.

As mentioned earlier, I have a lot of people reach out to me on LinkedIn/Email with job openings. Currently, I'm not looking for any work, so I often say no. However, I do point the recruiters to other people I know, who are currently looking for jobs. I share a lot of job postings on my IG and Twitter, so make sure you follow me there to stay posted.

Because this is somebody I know, I was happy to connect him with a recruiter. The best way to get to know me, is to engage with all my things online.

I'm not unique here. Many people often share opportunities they come across on Twitter. Thus, following experts in the field, who will come across these opportunities is a must.

For best results, try to actively engage with these people you're following. I'm likely to personally refer you if I know you. Actively engaging with the experts through likes, shares, and comments is a great way to build a connection. And the internet has made it very easy to do so.

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Step 2: Do some research

What about meeting people in person? This is a much more direct(and often easier) way to meet people who can refer/connect you.Such connections are also much stronger, and will be useful since they will not only refer you, but help you out in all sorts of ways.

Look around you for groups that engage in activities. This can be volunteering, Sports, Hiking, Comedy or anything else. J and I became friends because we both train and watch MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Find an activity that interests you, and get involved with the group.

As you're picking an activity, keep two things in mind. One make sure you like the activity, so you can genuinely engage with it. If you're there only for networking, you’ll be no fun, and thus unlikely to make any connections.

The second is to find activities that attract a diverse demographic. If the activity is mostly made up of one kind of demographic, you won't be able to really build a robust network. The obvious exception to that is if the demographic is the one you're looking for (for eg. I am part of an AI research group, where we share different papers and discuss them).

Step 3: Have fun

This is the easiest part of the process. You now have a few activities that you can spend your time on. So go have fun. Actually engage with them, and you’ll make a lot of connections who can refer you/help you out in all kinds of ways.

As stated earlier, don't do something solely for networking. That is very desperate, and people will figure it out right away. And it will turn them off.

Also if you do meet someone who you need a referral from, don't ask right away. You are still strangers. Take some time, actually connect with them. That way, you will not only secure their referral, but also their help in other ways (resume review, technical problems, preparation help etc.). Your connection will also be a lot more permanent than a simple referral. They will even forward your profile to people, without you asking.

Networking is about a lot more than just getting referrals. It's about connecting with people so you can both benefit each other. This is something that a lot of traditional Networking Gurus miss. All their advice is focused on getting referrals (half the time this doesn't even work) instead of actually making connections that can be mutually beneficial.

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