Essential Networking Tips for New Graduates
Craft Your Story: The Graduate’s Elevator Pitch
From Degree to Value
Translate your coursework and projects into outcomes employers care about: problem-solving, communication, and measurable impact. Try a formula: I help X do Y by Z. Share your version in the comments for community feedback today.
Practice Without Sounding Scripted
Rehearse your pitch until it feels like a conversation, not a speech. Practice with a friend, voice notes, or mock calls. Aim for warmth, clarity, and one specific detail that invites a follow-up question.
Profile Essentials for New Graduates
Use a friendly headshot, a headline that states your direction, and a summary that highlights outcomes from projects or internships. Pin a portfolio link. Ask a mentor for a brief recommendation this week.
Connection Requests That Get Accepted
Skip generic invites. Reference a post, podcast, or project they shared and explain why it resonated. Offer a single sentence about your interests and a light ask, like a resource recommendation.
Cold Outreach, Warm Results
The Five-Line Email Framework
Line one: context. Two: compliment or insight. Three: your relevant angle. Four: precise, tiny ask. Five: thanks. This structure respects time and increases response rates. Try it today and share your draft below.
Subject Lines That Earn Opens
Use relevance and specificity: Question about your [talk] on data storytelling; Recent grad inspired by your open-source project; Quick question on internships at [team]. Clarity beats cleverness in professional inboxes.
Handling No Response Gracefully
Follow up once after four to seven days with something new: a brief insight, updated portfolio, or event note. If silence continues, thank them silently and move on. Your energy belongs with engaged allies.
Career Fairs with a Strategy
Research three employers beforehand, prepare one tailored question each, and bring a concise one-pager portfolio. After conversations, jot immediate notes on names, roles, and follow-up actions so your outreach feels personal and timely.
Local Meetups and Online Forums
Join niche groups on Slack, Discord, or Meetup. Offer help—share a template or fix a small bug. One graduate volunteered at a registration desk, met speakers, and left with two mentoring calls scheduled.
Virtual Conferences Etiquette
Introduce yourself in chat with one line about your focus and a link to a project. Ask thoughtful questions tied to the session. Afterward, send speakers a thank-you note with a single actionable takeaway.
Informational Interviews and Mentorship
How to Ask for Fifteen Minutes
Be clear: I admire your transition from campus to product analytics. Could I ask three questions about skills you used in your first role? I’ll keep it to fifteen minutes and come prepared.
Questions That Build Rapport and Insight
Ask about challenges, early mistakes, and decision-making. What surprised you after month three? Which resources shaped your growth? People love sharing their path—then share a quick thank-you post honoring their advice.
Turning One Chat into a Long-Term Ally
Send a recap note and one action you’ll implement. Two weeks later, share a progress update. Offer value back: an article relevant to their project or an introduction that could help their goals.
Confidence, Mindset, and Authenticity
Start with micro-goals: one message per day, one event per month. Prepare conversation starters and end gracefully when needed. Confidence compounds as you collect tiny wins and celebrate progress, not perfection.
Confidence, Mindset, and Authenticity
Share honest interests and early lessons. People connect with curiosity and effort more than flawless resumes. Mention one challenge you’re working on and how you’re tackling it—this invites mentorship and empathy.