The Networking Myth and the Reality
Job search networking that works is slow and specific: reconnect with people you already know, ask for advice rather than a job, follow up with something useful, and ask for a referral once there's a real relationship. It works because referred candidates reach interviews far more often than people who apply cold.
When people hear "networking for jobs," they picture awkward conferences and transactional LinkedIn DMs asking strangers for favours. That version of networking is bad for a reason. It isn't networking. Real networking is building real professional relationships over time, and when done well, it's the single most useful job search tool available.
The data backs this up. In Ashby's referral data (May 2025), referrals were only about 1% of applications, yet 40% of referred candidates reached an interview, against 3% of inbound applicants. And Gem's 2026 Recruiting Benchmarks Report found that job boards and company marketing channels produce roughly 90% of applications but only about half of hires. Your CV is the reason you can compete; your network is the reason you get the call.
Related reading: How to Find and Land Remote Jobs in 2025 · Personal Branding for Job Seekers: Stand Out in a Crowded Market · Stop Applying to Every Job: Start Targeting the Right Ones
Start With Your Existing Network
Before you DM any strangers, map who you already know. Former colleagues, university classmates, professors, ex-clients, people from industry events you actually remember. LinkedIn's "People You May Know" and your phone contacts. Reconnect first. Not to ask for a job. To catch up and quietly share where you are in your career.
The Informational Interview
An informational interview is a conversation where you ask for career insight, not a job. Low-stakes for them, high-value for you. Here's a template that works:
"Hi [Name], I came across your work at [Company] and I'm impressed by [specific thing]. I'm currently exploring opportunities in [field/industry] and would love to learn from someone with your experience. Would you be open to a 20-minute virtual chat at your convenience?"
Most people say yes. A friend in Bengaluru sent twelve of these in two weeks targeting senior PMs at fintech companies. Eight responded, six met her, two became referrers, one of those referrals turned into the offer she eventually took. The hit rate isn't always that high, but it's never zero.
