Networking is important, but can often seem overwhelming. Networking is the act of building and maintaining professional relationships. It is important for college students because it can help them gain access to job opportunities, mentors, and industry knowledge. Establishing a strong professional network can also be beneficial for finding internships and getting advice on career paths.

In this section:

• Tips for networking
• Who to reach out to
• How to craft messages and outreach
• How to utilize templates to write messages

<aside> 🛠️ Resources:

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• Networking Guide + Templates 💬
• Networking Tracker 📈
• List of tech-affiliated Slack communities globally
• Using Meetup for networking

Tips For Networking

• Start networking early: Don't wait until you are about to graduate to start networking. Start building your network while you are still in college, as this can help you to find internships and job opportunities, as well as connect with professionals who can provide advice and support throughout your career.
• Use LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great tool for networking, as it allows you to connect with other professionals in your field and share your experiences and accomplishments. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and includes a professional-looking photo, as well as details about your education and experience.
• Be proactive: Don't wait for people to come to you. Reach out to professionals in your field and ask if they would be willing to meet for coffee or a phone call to discuss their experiences and advice. This can help you to build relationships and learn from others who have been successful in your field.
• Follow up: After meeting someone, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note or email. This shows that you value the connection and are interested in continuing the relationship. Additionally, be sure to keep in touch with your network on a regular basis, even if you don't have a specific ask. This will help to maintain the relationship and make it easier to reach out in the future when you need their help or advice.

Reaching Out

When reaching out, consider the best person to reach out to. For example, think about:

Engineer vs. Hiring Manager vs. Recruiter

• Engineer: Someone with the title you want OR on the team you are targeting OR who has taken the path you want or you have a connection with (but they don’t know about hiring)
• Recruiter: “New Grad”, “Technical”, “Internship”, “Early Career”, specific contact name (via CodePath or your university)
• Hiring Manager: “We’re/I’m Hiring” in their deadline or could have posted on their LinkedIn or Twitter OR get that information from a recruiter or from doing an informational interview with someone at the company (especially someone who took the path you want)

Ideally someone you have something in common with

• CodePath graduate/alum: Search for CodePath.org in People profiles
• University/program alum: Search through alumni tool of your university
• Anyone affiliated with a community you’re a member of (Grace Hopper, NSBE, ACM, etc)
• Someone who shares parts of your unique experience or background

Prioritizing the people you’re reaching out to:

1. Existing connections or people you have something in common with should always be given priority consideration
2. Hiring Manager: because they are the decision-makers
3. Engineer: can give you a referral and insights
4. Other employee: can you give you referral
5. Current or past interns there: can often be candid and have recent experience in hiring process
6. Recruiter/HR: best for answering HR-related questions and advice on standing out in application

Getting your messages read

• Sincere and authentic (write like you would talk to the person)