How to leverage your network to get opportunities within the tech industry

If you’re like me and have a hard time speaking to people, then this is definitely for you. It is essential that you know how best to leverage your LinkedIn network and connections to get the opportunity you want. As they say, ‘Jobs are with people and not in places’ - lol I just formed that. But if you invest more in your social capital (human relationships, connections, and network), you will find everything you need, from finances, job opportunities, business opportunities, and much more.?

For the tech industry in particular, it is vital to know the right approach to connecting with these people as it can significantly increase your chances of landing a job in this fast-paced and competitive field.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can help you connect with professionals in the tech industry. I have collated a few tips I found from my experience and research that will help you to leverage your LinkedIn network to break into the tech industry.

Optimize your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is the first form of interaction you will have with any potential connection (employers, recruiters, and mentors). Just like your resume, you need to keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date. This involves having a professional profile picture and headline. Let your headline sell you in a captivating way that makes someone want to form a connection (I might write more about this in a future post). It is also essential to have a well-crafted profile that showcases your skills, experiences, and achievements. If you have little to no experience, thank God LinkedIn has a section for projects, volunteer work, and certifications. Use them to showcase the skills you have gained and make them as professional as possible.

Connect with People in the Tech Industry

This is the most important tip that I would always emphasize on. If you're using your LinkedIn to build connections in theory but not in reality (relationships with your connections), then you are not maximizing your LinkedIn. LinkedIn is all about connections, and connecting with people in the tech industry can help you expand your network and create opportunities. Start by searching for people who work in companies you are interested in and send them a connection request with a personalized message introducing yourself.?

This is a template I personally use when building my connections “Hello Name, my name is Oreoluwa Ayo-Fisher and I am a 3rd year student at the African Leadership University. I am currently pursuing Product Marketing and I see you’re also an APMM. I was wondering if you’d be open to having a short chat with me about your journey and experience in the field just so I can learn a bit from you to help me with mine. I’d really appreciate it! Thanks, Ore.”

After sending the message to a tonne of people, you would have at least two people respond and express their interest in having a chat with you. Make sure you have in-depth knowledge about who they are, what they do, where they work and their personal interests. This will help you build a good relationship with them. Focus more on listening to their experiences and show more interest in just learning from them rather than in talking about yourself. NEVER ask them for a job or internship from that first conversation; it's a huge turnoff. Ideally, as you have more conversations and engage with their posts, they would express more interest in supporting your career journey, and some even offer to give you referrals too. Although sometimes you may find that some people are incredibly nice and willing to mentor you from the first conversation but still try not to come off as an opportunist. You can find my post about how a short chat landed me an internship and then a full-time role as a university student.

Engage with Posts and Articles

This is a follow-up to the last point. Engaging with posts and articles on LinkedIn can help you build your credibility and showcase your expertise to your connection. Liking and celebrating a post is not enough; commenting and sharing valuable insights can help you get noticed by potential mentors, employers, and recruiters. Try not to be a passer-by, just scrolling through posts and not interacting with them. You would be missing out on the possibility of having someone find interest in your comment and connect with you from that. Also, if you find a post from a connection that hasn’t gotten back to you, you can repost it and leave your thoughts, and I bet they would take an interest in you in a bit. In short, try to stand out and be seen.?

Join LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn groups are an excellent way to connect with professionals in your industry. Joining relevant groups in the tech industry can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and news, and also allow you to network with people who share similar interests. I won’t share much about this because my friend Zulfawu Nobre Tahiru recently wrote an insightful post about how to find LinkedIn groups, so I recommend you to go check it out!

Attend Industry Events

Attending industry events such as conferences, meetups, and workshops can help you network with professionals in the tech industry. A number of companies, such as 谷歌 , Meta , 微软 , host events, such as insights programs, for college students to learn more about what they do. This is a good start for a college student looking to work at these companies. Again don't just be a passerby; make sure you reach out to the employees in attendance and build a conversation from whatever they shared at the event.?

In conclusion, breaking into the tech industry can be challenging, but leveraging your LinkedIn network can significantly increase your chances of landing a job. If you apply some of the tips shared it will definitely help you create opportunities and build your career in the tech industry.