How to nail networking and network your way into your dream tech job

They say ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. And as you may know, to some extent, this is true.

Learn how to leverage who you know - and who you’ll get to know - to help you land your dream job in tech.

Now you’ve decided that the tech industry is the right path for you and have done your due diligence (if you haven’t, then definitely check out our article on ‘How to plan your move into tech’), one of the most surefire ways to achieve success is by starting to reach out and build a network before applying for roles.

This article, the second in the ‘How to land your dream job in tech’ series, provides you with handy tips and tricks for not only networking your way into your dream tech job, but how to maximise every opportunity, form long-lasting relationships and build mutually beneficial connections that will continue to support you as you grow throughout your career.

Networking → Referrals → Success

Being able to network effectively can set apart an applicant with an average chance of getting the job from an applicant with an almost certain chance of securing an offer before even reaching the interview. This is down to one incredibly powerful aspect of the recruitment process: referrals. 

Thanks at least in part to ‘The Great Resignation’, the demand for tech talent has increased, and some companies have gone as far as paying candidates just for attending an interview. This drives up the ‘cost per hire’ (the sum of all resources it takes to hire someone into an organisation, including everything from advertising on job boards to IT costs) and means that HR teams at tech firms are looking for alternative more cost-effective ways to source quality candidates instead of paying for advertisements or recruiters.

In addition, candidates with no previous work experience in tech - either due to a career change or being a recent school leaver - can represent a risk to employers. After all, how does the hiring manager know that you’re serious about a move into tech, that you’ll be able to excel in tech as you did in your previous role, or that you’re not going to change your mind a few months into the job and decide to go back to your old career?

Referrals gained through networking can solve both of these issues faced by tech companies wanting to recruit talent. Not only are they more cost effective and provide an additional source of candidates to those coming through typical methods such as recruiters or job boards, but they are also much more likely to have a successful hire rate (16.7% over 1.3% hire rate for those without referrals, according to Forbes), as well as a long term successful job match, according to Glassdoor (bolstered by up to 6.6%).

Essentially, referrals de-risk the hiring process for tech companies and can massively increase your chances of landing the job. If you have someone on the inside to vouch for you, then you’re already one step ahead of someone that has applied ‘cold’, particularly if you are new to tech and/or don’t have any previous experience. Personally, I consider referrals so powerful that I wouldn’t risk applying to a job that I really want without one.

Strictly speaking, networking could be classed as a step in the ‘planning’ stage of landing your dream job in tech, as it’s typically done before any formal job applications. However you should make a habit of ongoing networking and forming relationships throughout your career, no matter what level you’re at. It will become increasingly important as you climb the ladder into more senior roles, and especially in leadership.

LinkedIn is your friend

Starting networking from scratch in a new industry can be intimidating. After all, how can you get a referral for a job at a company where you don’t know anyone? Especially if you are new to the industry and starting from scratch, you may feel daunted, but LinkedIn is your friend here.

LinkedIn’s search filters are great if you don’t know who you need to be looking for. Most small or medium tech businesses will have a ‘meet the team’ page on their website with the names and positions of their rosters, and then the company, location, title and industry filters will help you narrow down who you should be reaching out to. 

Once you find a role advertised that you want to apply for (if you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, we’ll be covering this in an upcoming blog post), I would recommend using LinkedIn to look for:

1. The potential hiring manager (likely to be a more senior person) but importantly…

2. The person with a role closest to the role you’re applying for.

“The Coffee Date” ☕️

When sending a connection request to someone with a similar role to the one you’re applying for, add a note to introduce yourself and - here’s the trick - suggest an informal coffee to find out more about their role and the industry. This provides you with a chance to conduct vital research and get first hand info on the company and the role, all the while staying ‘off the record’ and free from the pressure of a formal interview.

Here’s a message I found from when I was contacting tech consultants before I made my move into tech:

“Hi XXX - thanks so much for connecting and hope you’re doing well? Slightly out of the blue I know, but I wondered if it would be possible to meet after work for a coffee/chat this week? I am really interested in getting into [area of tech] as a career and think you'd be a great person to connect with. Are you available at all?”

It’s important that this coffee meeting is kept informal, but you should prepare a list of questions and have a goal of what you want to achieve by the end of the meeting - at the minimum you should find out as much information as possible to support your application and ideally, a commitment from them to refer you for the role. 

Here are just a few examples of what you might want to know from the informal coffee meeting:

What is their typical interview process?

This will give you a head start so that you can begin to prepare for each step ahead without formally entering the hiring process.

Who are the key decision makers in the interview process and what are they looking for, and what are they like as people?

This enables you to research the interviewers ahead of meeting them, so that you can find a common ground and/or adapt your style during the interview process. For example, if you’re told that the hiring manager has a ‘no nonsense’ attitude, then you know to avoid waffling and stay concise when answering questions.

What you can typically expect to do in the role day-to-day

Not only does this provide you with additional insight to ensure that the role is right for you and matches your expectations, but it will also help you if you’re asked for your understanding of the role during the interview process.

What kind of questions can you expect to be asked in an interview?

This is like getting the exam questions before sitting the test, except it’s a perfectly legitimate question to ask in an informal conversation when you haven’t formally applied yet.

What’s the culture like?

Similarly to knowing what to expect day-to-day, establishing what the culture is like will help you determine that this company is right for you, and if so, you will be better prepared during the interview if questions come up regarding what your ideal company culture looks like.

What else you can be doing to ensure you’re doing everything you can to secure the role?

This is a valuable opportunity for your referee to provide any other useful pieces of advice about how to ace the interview process, and how to strengthen your profile even further. For example, when I asked this question when I was looking at getting into tech consulting, I was told the name of another certification I hadn’t heard of which would be really valuable on my resume.

As you’re wrapping up the coffee meeting (which I would keep to under 30 minutes long, if you can), ask if they would be willing to refer you and pass your CV on to the hiring manager. If you’ve made a good impression and communicated your value proposition well (which we’ll be teaching you in another upcoming post) then most people should be happy to help.

And for those who are in a position to help, remember that what goes around comes around. That newbie starting out in tech may one day be able to return the favour tenfold. Never dismiss anyone, and remember your company probably has a referral bonus for you too, if your contact is successful, so it’s a win-win.

Network > Meritocracy

Landing your dream job in tech takes a combination of both skills match and network match. Having the right skills, experience and attitude can only be looked at once you have your foot in the door, especially if there are a high number of applicants. Networking may not come naturally for everybody, and it’s important to remember that many people need to try harder at forming their own networks than others who are born into connections. 

If you come from a lower socio-economic background, it’s likely that you’ll need to work harder than someone born into privilege and having connections through family and friends. 

But anything worth having came through hard work, and if you can put time, effort, and your authentic self into putting these tips into practice, you’ll be able to gain that referral for your dream role and can continue to build on your network throughout your career.

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Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for the next article in the “How to land your dream job in tech’ series: writing a killer CV.

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