Networking Tips for Design Graduates

Stop (only) applying for jobs. I'm serious. While everyone will help, here is what actually works: ✅ Spend that time building relationships with people at companies you want to work for. Here's the math no one talks about: 100 applications = 2-3 callbacks (if you're lucky) 10 genuine connections = 5-7 opportunities How do I know? Hiring and getting hired are very similar. So far, all my hires were referrals and introductions. All my clients came through the same. I've placed hundreds of designers. The ones who got hired fastest? They weren't the ones with the most applications. They were the ones who: → DMed designers at target companies about their work (I've hired people who did this at Miro) → Commented thoughtfully on posts from hiring managers → Asked for 15-minute coffee chats, not job talk at first → Built relationships BEFORE they needed them (that's the actual gold here) Real example from last week: The designer spent 3 months engaging with the design lead's content. When a role opened up? She got a DM: "We have something perfect for you." Never even posted publicly. Meanwhile, 847 other designers are fighting over the LinkedIn posting 👹 But here's the part no one teaches you — WHO to reach out to: ✓ Someone I aspire to get to know ✓ Someone's career I aspire to have ✓ Someone who works where I'd like to work ✓ Someone who may be going through similar challenges ✓ Someone I will have lots to talk about And here's how I prioritize companies and roles: First, I map out my network: → Find all my previous colleagues — where do they work now? → Find all open roles — what's relevant and what sounds like the best fit? → What can I see about those environments from JDs and career websites? This gives me a targeted list of: ✨ Companies where I already have warm connections ✨ Roles that actually match my skills ✨ Environments I'd thrive in (not just survive) Smart networking > no applications > successful hires. Every. Single. Time. The best jobs aren't advertised. They go to people already in the conversation. So stop being application #248. Start being the person they think of first. Your time is better spent building one real connection than sending 20 applications into the black hole. Trust me on this one. 💬 How did you get your last role: application or connection? Tell me and let's do some market research together ⬇️

People ask me all the time how to network. Here’s a short, tactical guide on how to actually do it - grounded in real data, real results, and 3,500+ jobs found through relationships. 🎯 The #1 misconception Networking is not: “Let me ask you for a job.” It is: “Let me have a real, human moment with someone in this industry.” ✅ What actually works This is how you build meaningful professional relationships - the kind that lead to real opportunities: 1️⃣ Be around. Events, Discords, social posts, games projects, ticket giveaways, community coaching - just show up. Start by being visible. Over time, become memorable for the right reasons. 2️⃣ Don’t pitch. Connect. Ask questions. Be genuinely curious. You’re planting seeds, not harvesting. This takes months and years. There are not shortcuts to building real relationships. 3️⃣ Look sideways, not up. A junior colleague can often help you more than a C-level exec. Build trust, first, with people at your level or just above it. 4️⃣ Follow up like a human. Send messages that matter: “Just played [X] - loved the level design.” “Your GDC talk really stuck with me - thank you.” “Noticed you moved from QA to design - would love to hear how.” 5️⃣ Give before you get. Share insights, leave helpful comments, support others’ work - anything that builds trust and makes you recognizable. 6️⃣ Say hi when there’s nothing to gain. That’s the best time. No stakes, no pressure - it’s when real relationships start. 7️⃣ Don’t just “shoot your shot.��� ❌❌❌❌❌ Never reach out with “Can you get me a job?” That closes doors, fast. Lead with curiosity and conversation, not a transactional, cold ask. 🔥 If I wanted to be provocative… I’d say this: Applying to jobs without connective tissue is very inefficient. Particularly for early career and more senior folks. Instead of asking, “What should I apply to?” - ask, “Where can I build a relationship?” Posting about hundreds of applications is understandable, but it misses the point. Focus on how many real connections you’ve made - then work backward to the right applications. 🧠 Avoid the Dream Company Trap Too many people focus only on the one studio they love - and end up pinging the same five people as everyone else. I always ask: Where do I already have network strength? Where can I go that everybody else isn’t going? We track 3,000+ game studios. 1,000+ of them hire. Go outside the top 50. 🪜 Think in ladders and sidesteps Instead of aiming straight at your target studio, look at who owns that studio. Think conglomerates. Think sister teams. Adjacent verticals. 📊 The data backs it up. Across our community: Cold apps: ~1–2% yield Apps with any warm connection: 10–20x+ better odds 🧭 The shift is simple Spend more time building bridges than sending résumés. Relationships are the infrastructure of hiring. Build that first. The first thing I ask anyone who's stuck is: Are you spending 80%+ of your effort building relationships? If not, do that.

“I’ve applied everywhere. I’ve heard nothing.” If that’s you right now... Let’s pause. Let’s pivot. Because what if the answer isn’t more job boards... but new doors you haven’t knocked on? If you're a May 2025 grad (especially on an F-1 visa), job searching in the U.S. can feel like running a marathon in a fog. But here’s a secret: You don’t always need access to the C-suite. You need a crack in the door. And cracks? You can create them. Here are networking strategies you haven’t tried yet—and how to do them in real life. 1. The “Alumni Stack” Strategy Instead of a one-off message to one alum, build a chain. How to do it: Search for alumni from your school on LinkedIn Use filters: industry + location + company (e.g., “Data Analyst” + “Bay Area” + “Visa Inc.”) Reach out to 5 with a message like: “Hi [Name], I’m a May 2025 grad exploring roles in [field]. I noticed you’ve made a transition I really admire. I’d love to hear 2 mins of your journey—no pressure to respond, just grateful to learn from alumni like you.” Once you speak to one, end by asking: “Is there someone else you’d recommend I reach out to next?” That intro makes the next conversation 10x easier. It’s like referrals—but for insight. 2. Start a “Career Curiosity” Newsletter (Even if it’s just 5 subscribers) When you share what you’re learning, you become a magnet. How to do it: Pick a free platform (Substack, Beehiiv, LinkedIn articles) Once a week, share what you're learning in your job search: 1 resource (course, tool, podcast) 1 insight (“What I learned from shadowing a UX designer”) 1 question for your readers Share it with people you admire: “Hi [Name], I’ve started a small newsletter where I unpack career tools and lessons as a new grad. I mentioned your work in the latest edition—thank you for the inspiration!” Suddenly, you’re not just searching. You’re creating conversation. 3. Offer to “Intern” for 1 Week (Unpaid & Project-Based) It’s bold—but bold gets remembered. How to do it: Identify small companies, startups, or nonprofits you genuinely care about Find a task you could help with (BIM audit, website UX review, blog writing) Reach out with: “Hi [Name], I’m a recent grad learning [skill]. I’d love to offer 1 week of help—free—on a micro-project your team’s too busy to finish. I’ll treat it as a capstone, and you get a finished piece of work. Open to it?” Even if they say no—you’ve made a lasting impression. And if they say yes? That could turn into a referral or a role. Final Thought: Most people think networking = asking for jobs. But real networking? It’s creating a reason to stay in someone’s mind—long before you ever apply. Your goal isn’t to impress. It’s to connect. To show up with curiosity. To leave behind a feeling that says: “This person is going somewhere.” Try just one idea this week. #JobSearch2025 #NetworkingWithoutCringe #InternationalStudents #GradLife

5 ways I’ve been hired without applying to jobs: (these sure beat the “spray and pray” method) — 1/ Made my work visible before I needed work I didn’t wait until I was desperate to show what I could do. Posting work, sharing ideas, and engaging with peers long before needing a job made it easier for recruiters and clients to find me. 2/ Built relationships with people who hire, not just peers Most designers network with other designers (great for community), but hiring managers, founders, and product leaders make the hiring decisions. I made sure I was on their radar too. 3/ Lived in a tech hub early in my career I’ve been 100% remote for seven years in a rural area. Before that, I lived in a city with more tech jobs. Many roles weren’t remote, so in-person events gave me a huge advantage. Casual conversations led to real opportunities. 4/ Focused on impact and visuals on my site Recruiters spend 10–30 seconds on a portfolio. I cut the fluff, led with strong visuals, and highlighted the real impact of my work. This made it easy for hiring managers to see my value and reach out. 5/ Stayed in touch with past coworkers Instead of chasing cold leads, I made sure ex-colleagues knew I was available. The easiest hires happen when someone vouches for you. One of my biggest clients came from a referral from a previous design colleague. — The job market is brutal. Nothing is guaranteed. But these tactics work a lot better than applying to 1,000 jobs and hoping for the best. Making yourself discoverable is your best bet.

Build connections when you don’t need them, so they’re there when you do. Networking is a long‑term investment. You never know what can happen tomorrow, whether it’s a new opportunity, an unexpected challenge, or a career pivot. By cultivating relationships early, you turn strangers into allies and potential into possibility. My pro‑tip? Develop your personal value proposition. 
- List your top 3–5 strengths and concrete examples of how you’ve helped others 
- Turn each into an “I help…” statement (for example, “I help marketing teams drive engagement through data‑driven storytelling”) 
- Use these statements to guide every outreach, ensuring you’re always offering value, not just asking for favors Then start from what you know. 1. Choose 5–10 people from your alumni network, former classmates, or close colleagues 2. Send a genuine note, share an article they might find helpful, congratulate them on a recent win, or simply ask how you can support them 3. No agenda. Just curiosity and a willingness to help Next, venture into the unknown. 1. Identify people at companies you admire or in roles you aspire to 2. Do your homework: reference a recent project, article, or speaking engagement 3. Reach out with a clear, value‑first message: “I enjoyed your piece on X; as someone looking to Y, I’d love to learn how you approached Z.” And keep the momentum going. 
- Schedule quarterly reminders to check in, share insights, celebrate milestones, or ask a thoughtful question 
- Track key dates (promotions, product launches, anniversaries) so your messages feel timely Your network matters. When you need advice, an introduction, or anything really, you’ll already have authentic connections. And at the end of the day, already built connections where you can leverage the relationships > dry unknowns ‘Hey, I need help’ messages. #StephSynergy

Let’s talk about networking. Most designers do it wrong. → They DM random people asking for referrals. → They connect without context. → They treat LinkedIn like a vending machine. “Press connect, get job.” That’s not networking. That’s vending machine thinking. Here’s how I teach it instead — and how I got first-round interviews without applying cold: 1. Start with trust, not asks Don’t start with “Can you refer me?” Try: “Hey [Name], I admire your work at [Company]. Would love to hear your journey — especially how you navigated the switch from [X to Y].” It’s human. Curious. Non-transactional. 2. Focus on alumni — they already trust you → Shared school = instant bridge. → Shared bootcamp = shared pain. → Shared hometown = unspoken rapport. Reach out as a peer — not a pitch. 3. Lead with insight, not requests Referrals work best when you earn them. Try a UX audit: → Find one UX gap in their product. → Mock up a fix. → Share it with context. “I noticed [X]. Here’s a 3-slide breakdown of how I’d approach it.” That one message? Will get you a reply. Because you’re not asking for help. You’re offering value. Be honest — are you networking for trust… or begging for access? Start with relationships. End with referrals.

I have placed 70+ job seekers in the last 3 years Here are 10 networking tactics that work, especially if you're an introvert. And that will help you connect meaningfully and land a job: 1. Start with small, focused conversations Go for one-on-one chats or small-group settings (like meetups or workshops) instead of large events. Quality over quantity 2. Engage online first Comment on LinkedIn posts, join Slack/Discord rooms, or send thoughtful messages. Build trust. 3. Show up Arrive at events without pressure to talk. Next time, aim for one intro Next time, 5, etc. Each step builds confidence. 4. Bring a networking buddy Have a friend by your side if need be. Take turns introducing each other to new people. 5. Ask open, curiosity-driven questions Use prompts like “What are you working on?” or “How did you get into this?” to spark genuine conversations. 6. Set clear, simple goals Before events, set a goal (e.g., swap 5 business cards or connect with 3 people), then follow up afterwards. 7. Prepare your introduction Craft a 15–30 second intro: who you are, what you do, and why you’re there. Practice until it feels natural. 8. Treat networking as an everyday action See every interaction (emails, comments, meetings) as a networking chance. 9. Follow up with value After a chat, send a quick thank-you message, add an article or connection that supports something they mentioned. 10. Take care of yourself afterwards Social events can drain energy. Schedule downtime and recharge routines to stay consistent. Follow Jaret André for more job search tips

New grads — if “networking” makes you feel uneasy or a little cringe, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be awkward, transactional, or fake. One of the most effective — and authentic — ways to build professional relationships? Informational interviews. Think of them as curiosity-driven conversations, not sales pitches. Here’s how to get started: 📌 Use LinkedIn to find people in roles or industries that interest you 📌 Ask for 20–30 minutes to learn about their career path 📌 Lead with curiosity, prep thoughtful questions, and show appreciation 📩 Nervous about reaching out? I’ve created templates to make it easier (graphics below 👇) 💬 Not sure what to ask? I’ll drop go-to questions in the comments. Truthfully, this approach helped me land my job at LinkedIn. Through low-pressure conversations, I learned what really mattered in the role, built real relationships, and followed up when the time was right. Next week: I’ll wrap up this mini career series with tips to crush your next interview. #InformationalInterviews #NewGrad #Networking #JobSearchWithClaire ___ 🔔 Follow me, Claire Silcox, to catch the final post ♻️ Tag a new grad who's navigating the job search 💼 Explore career coaching at clairemsilcox.com

✨ Proof that networking matters in this job market ✨ I recently helped a designer get a job. They started the job last week and told me it’s going great. Here’s what happened: A recruiter contacted me about a design position. I knew it wasn’t the right fit for me, and I also knew a talented designer looking for opportunities. I connected them, and the rest is history. Yes, the UX job market is challenging. Let’s first acknowledge that. However, companies ARE hiring. People ARE landing jobs. The key is knowing how to navigate your job search effectively. One of the most powerful ways to do that is through networking. 💡 As Jared Spool recently pointed out, job postings don’t appear overnight. It can take months—sometimes a year—for hiring managers to get approval to fill a role. During that time, the hiring manager is already considering who they want to interview. If you’re on their radar BEFORE the position is open, you’re ahead of the game. They may even reach out to you and ask you to apply before the role is public. 🤯 So, how do you network effectively? Here’s what I’ve seen work for me and for others: ✅ Build relationships with others in the UX field. ✅ Maintain and nurture those connections over time. ✅ Stay visible by engaging on LinkedIn. This can be as simple as commenting on posts you find interesting. ✅ Be clear about what you’re looking for: If you say, “I can do any UX work!” it confuses recruiters. Know your strengths and communicate what YOU can bring to the organization. ✅ Consider a career coach: The right guidance can help you land a job quickly. If hiring a coach shaves several months off your job search, it’s probably worth the money. ✅ Keep a positive mindset: The doom and gloom around UX hiring is real, and so are the opportunities. Remember that companies are hiring, and people are getting UX jobs. The job market has changed. Cold applying rarely worked before, and it’s even less effective now. Treat your job search as a skill set you can sharpen and refine. Networking is one of the best job-hunting skills you can practice and grow over time. Start building authentic connections today. You never know who might help you land your next role in the future. What networking techniques have you found to be most helpful? Let me know in the comments. 👇

Networking is all about building value-driven, long-term relationships. For students or those early in their careers, it’s common to wonder: what value can I offer with little experience? Here are 11 impactful ways to provide value when you're just starting out: 1. Share unique insights from coursework, internships, or projects. 2. Offer fresh perspectives on industry challenges or trends. 3. Assist with research, data collection, or analysis. 4. Use your social media presence to help promote their work or events. 5. Offer to help with event organization. 6. Share summaries and insights from events, seminars, or meetups you attend. 7. Offer design or tech help, like troubleshooting, presentations, images, videos, or websites. 8. Make introductions to contacts who could be helpful to them. 9. Give thoughtful, constructive feedback; not just praise. 10. Celebrate their successes by sharing their achievements, online or in person. 11. Offer to help with testing their ideas. Remember: - This is a long-term game. - Results might not be immediate, and not everyone will reciprocate, so use your judgment on how much time to invest and keep realistic expectations.