Peer Career Consultant Blogs

Leveraging platforms like LinkedIn to connect with people in your network, especially Santa Clara alumni, can make all the difference in landing that first interview. Here’s how you can break down networking into actionable steps:

Step 1: Identify the Right Connections
Start by finding the people you’d like to connect with. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for this—search for alumni, professors, professionals, or recruiters in your network who are connected to companies you’re interested in. One effective tactic is searching for “Early Careers Recruiters” at your target companies.

While recruiters receive many messages in a day, reaching out doesn’t hurt—it can pay off. Personally, I’ve landed 3 interviews and moved past resume screenings without having conversations, but simply just reaching out to recruiters on LinkedIn.

Step 2: Craft Your Outreach Message
When reaching out, keep your message polite, concise, and relevant. For example:

"Hi! My name is Ishani, and we connected a year back through the Peer Career Consultants program. I’m interested in working for [Company Name] and would love to hear about your experience so far. Would you have any availability to chat in the coming days? Thank you!"

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a response right away. People are busy, so keep reaching out to different contacts. Persistence is key.

Step 3: Prepare for the Meeting
Once you’ve secured a meeting, be sure to do your homework. Review their LinkedIn profile, noting their career trajectory, educational background, and extracurriculars. Have a list of 10-15 questions ready to ask about their experience, how they like working at the company, and what advice they might have for you.

Being prepared not only shows professionalism, but it also helps you feel more comfortable during the conversation.

Step 5: The Meeting
During the meeting, be sure to listen actively, ask thoughtful questions, and take notes. Remember, these are busy professionals who are taking time out of their day to speak with you, so it's important to respect and value their time. Developing a natural flow in conversation comes with practice, so don’t be discouraged if your first networking meeting feels awkward or doesn’t go perfectly. Keep at it—it will get better with experience.

Step 6: Approach the Referral with Care
After asking your questions, mention that you’re interested in a particular role at the company. Don’t ask for a referral right away—build a rapport first. Many alumni will offer a referral on their own. If they don’t, follow up when the application opens and express your continued interest.

Step 7: Follow-Up Etiquette
Always send a thank-you message after the conversation, either through email or LinkedIn. This demonstrates your appreciation and keeps you on their radar for future opportunities.

As you move through the interview process, keep your contact updated and continue to thank them for their support. Maintaining this relationship is crucial—it could help you land that dream job!