We’ve all been there – countless nights of sending application after application out to the online void of job boards. Maybe you’ve just graduated from college, or you’re close to doing so and want to secure your career ASAP. You’re not alone.
In fact, every minute that passes, approximately 9,000 people submit job applications on the popular job board LinkedIn. That’s 12 million applications submitted daily (Hedau, 2025).
With all that competition, how are you supposed to stand out?
It may sound cumbersome, especially for those who are more introverted, but networking is how I acquired most of my jobs within my lifetime.
But what is networking? And how do you go about it?
According to Merriam Webster, networking is “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions. specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”
Before you go sending connection requests on LinkedIn, think about what your intended career path looks like and do research into communities that could help give you advice. Platforms such as Discord and Reddit are just a couple of ways you can connect with people who are interested in the same career as you! This is also a more natural way to make connections without hitting-up strangers out of the blue.
If you’re currently in school or employed, getting to know your colleagues and making a good impression is another excellent way to form natural connections. Even if it doesn’t contribute directly to your desired career path, you never know who may be able to help you or give you advice in the future, including recommendations!
Remember this – it’s all about being kind, respectful, and inquisitive. You don’t want to be too pushy or straight-to-the-point about career advice.
Forming genuine connections means taking an interest in the other person.
Ask yourself these question about the person you’re speaking to:
- What name do they go by?
- What do they do for a living?
- What hobbies are they into?
- Do they have pets?
If you take the time to truly understand and get to know the person you are trying to connect with, you may emerge with not only a new connection added to your network but also a lifelong friend.
In a future blog, I will discuss in-depth how I utilized networking to break into the gaming industry, how to maintain your network, and other related topics. Stay tuned!
Sources
Hedau, Sagar. “LinkedIn’s Impact on Job Hunting: Facts & Figures (2025).” LinkedIn, 25 July 2025, http://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedins-impact-job-hunting-facts-figures-2025-sagar-hedau-okdwf/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Merriam-Webster. “Definition of NETWORKING.” Merriam-Webster.com, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/networking. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
Alaina GL Kaiser 