Activate your network.
Last updated 2026-07-01
Most job searches under-use the network the person already has, not because they don't know anyone, but because reaching out feels transactional — like the relationship only matters now that there's a favor attached. The reframe that actually helps: activating your network isn't asking for a job, it's asking for a conversation, information, or an introduction — three things that are far lower-stakes to ask for and, in practice, more likely to lead somewhere real than a direct "do you know of any openings."
The other common mistake is going broad and generic — a mass message to 200 connections gets a low response rate and reads as impersonal to everyone who gets it. A short list of 15-25 people, contacted individually with a specific, personalized reason for reaching out to each one, consistently outperforms a wide blast. Starting with the warmest relationships first — people who'd genuinely be glad to hear from you regardless of the ask — also builds momentum and confidence before moving to colder outreach.
What the full guide covers
- Why asking for a conversation beats asking for a job
- Building a short, prioritized list instead of a mass blast
- Starting with warm relationships before colder outreach
- What to actually say in a first message (and what to avoid)
- Following up without feeling like you're nagging
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Frequently asked questions
Is it awkward to reach out to old contacts about a job search?
It feels that way in advance more than it actually plays out — most people are glad to hear from a former colleague and willing to help in a small way. Framing the ask as a conversation or a piece of advice, not a direct job ask, lowers the awkwardness on both sides.
How many people should I reach out to?
A focused list of 15-25 people, contacted individually with a specific reason for each one, generally works better than a mass message to your entire network — quality and personalization outperform volume here.