Job Referral Tips

𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭. I knew I should do it, dreaded every minute of it, and avoided it whenever I could. The word itself felt transactional. As an introvert, the small talk and the exchange of business cards felt overwhelming. I went through the motions, but I never enjoyed it. Then one day, I changed how I approached it. I realized that the way I thought about networking shaped how I experienced it. If you see it as a chore, it will always feel like one. But if you see it as an opportunity to connect, to be helpful, or to learn something new, it becomes energizing. Not the kind of connection where you forget someone’s name a week later, but the kind where you remember their story. Now, when I walk into a room, I think about how I can be useful. I ask better questions. I follow up. I try to help people without expecting anything in return. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲: 1. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 Boz, one of my former managers, used to say to build bridges in peacetime. Don’t wait until you need something to reach out. One of the strongest connections I have came from someone who helped me find a caregiver for my mom. Years later, I was able to refer him to three contacts, all of whom offered him jobs. We built trust before either of us needed anything. 2. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 At each company I worked at, I saw this again and again. The people who reached out, did their homework, asked thoughtful questions, and demonstrated curiosity stood out. A resume rarely tells the full story. Just like colleges look for demonstrated interest, companies do too. 3. 𝐓𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 Many roles are never posted. At startups especially, hiring is often opportunistic. If someone great comes referred, they usually get a closer look. Let people know what you are looking for. You never know who is keeping a mental list for future openings. 4. 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 The world is smaller than you realize. I’ve received backchannel calls before a candidate even formally applied. I’ve also seen offers fall apart because of what someone shared off the record. What people say about you when you are not in the room matters. Are you known as someone who gives or someone who takes? Real connection is rarely convenient. It takes time. It takes intention. But it is often the difference between staying stuck and moving forward. So the next time you are tempted to opt out of that conversation, call, or coffee, ask yourself this: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠?

I’ve hired 7 people in the last few months. And here’s the twist: no CVs or interviews. That's right: No 5 rounds of interviews No job postings No search — 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗪? Each reached out to me with: ↳ A potential problem/opportunity they noticed in my work ↳ A clear plan on how they would fix it or contribute value ↳ Then we had a quick work trial, and that was it — 𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚 They showed me their familiarity with my work and ability to solve problems for me. No resume needed! Work speaks volumes. The hiring culture is evolving right before your eyes. And if you’re not adapting... Someone more courageous will take the opportunities. — 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘'𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗣𝗧 Here’s what you need to do right now to get ahead of the curve: 1. Revamp your LinkedIn ↳ Start sharing your insights, showcase the work you’re doing, and don’t be afraid to tell your personal story. Build your presence before you need it. 2. Don’t ask for jobs ↳ Create your own opportunities by reaching out to people with their specific problems and ideas on how you can help solve them. Be humble, but be bold. 3. Be consistent with your outreach ↳ Don’t just send one message and wait. Consistently engage with people, offer your insights, and stay on their radar. Building relationships takes time, but persistence and genuine value will set you apart from the rest. — If looking to get a job like my team, check the comments. The full guide covers everything from writing your about summary to advanced techniques. Now go get that job!

For the first time in life, I was on the other side - people were reaching out to me for referrals. I never thought I would learn so much from the process. Lets start with numbers first. I had 1000+ connection requests. Only 35 had notes attached with them. And, only 8 of them were well written. Within 12 minutes of posting, I had 4 direct messages (this is to tell you most people have crowded inboxes). It was impossible for me to respond to everyone who reached out to me. The biggest learning i have had is that I cannot refer you if I haven’t talked to you or know you. So even if you connect with me after a job posting goes live - if there is no prior relationship - I cannot refer you. This is why I always emphasize that building relationships is important. Now, let’s come to the messages/in-mails I received. There are four important keys to a referral message ✅ brief but informative. do not write 5 paragraphs. ✅ mention WHICH job you want to apply to. attach a link or job id number. ✅ attach your resume. ✅ address the person correctly. Most of the messages didn’t spell out my name correctly. While it is so simple - most messages missed one or two of the above mentioned things. You need to make it very simple for the person referring you. I cannot spend time asking you for information. Some things that I noticed people did which I really liked: - they researched all open positions. - asked me for insights/tips or which one would be a better fit. - did not ask for a referral but showed interest. Thinking back, I am more inclined to forward these people’s resume to the HR because they GENUINELY INTERESTED. A HUGE LEARNING and hope you can learn from this and make your referral reach-outs better too. #career #job #jobsearch #referrals

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

People ask me all the time how to network. Here’s a short, tactical guide on how to actually do it - grounded in real data, real results, and 3,500+ jobs found through relationships. 🎯 The #1 misconception Networking is not: “Let me ask you for a job.” It is: “Let me have a real, human moment with someone in this industry.” ✅ What actually works This is how you build meaningful professional relationships - the kind that lead to real opportunities: 1️⃣ Be around. Events, Discords, social posts, games projects, ticket giveaways, community coaching - just show up. Start by being visible. Over time, become memorable for the right reasons. 2️⃣ Don’t pitch. Connect. Ask questions. Be genuinely curious. You’re planting seeds, not harvesting. This takes months and years. There are not shortcuts to building real relationships. 3️⃣ Look sideways, not up. A junior colleague can often help you more than a C-level exec. Build trust, first, with people at your level or just above it. 4️⃣ Follow up like a human. Send messages that matter: “Just played [X] - loved the level design.” “Your GDC talk really stuck with me - thank you.” “Noticed you moved from QA to design - would love to hear how.” 5️⃣ Give before you get. Share insights, leave helpful comments, support others’ work - anything that builds trust and makes you recognizable. 6️⃣ Say hi when there’s nothing to gain. That’s the best time. No stakes, no pressure - it’s when real relationships start. 7️⃣ Don’t just “shoot your shot.” ❌❌❌❌❌ Never reach out with “Can you get me a job?” That closes doors, fast. Lead with curiosity and conversation, not a transactional, cold ask. 🔥 If I wanted to be provocative… I’d say this: Applying to jobs without connective tissue is very inefficient. Particularly for early career and more senior folks. Instead of asking, “What should I apply to?” - ask, “Where can I build a relationship?” Posting about hundreds of applications is understandable, but it misses the point. Focus on how many real connections you’ve made - then work backward to the right applications. 🧠 Avoid the Dream Company Trap Too many people focus only on the one studio they love - and end up pinging the same five people as everyone else. I always ask: Where do I already have network strength? Where can I go that everybody else isn’t going? We track 3,000+ game studios. 1,000+ of them hire. Go outside the top 50. 🪜 Think in ladders and sidesteps Instead of aiming straight at your target studio, look at who owns that studio. Think conglomerates. Think sister teams. Adjacent verticals. 📊 The data backs it up. Across our community: Cold apps: ~1–2% yield Apps with any warm connection: 10–20x+ better odds 🧭 The shift is simple Spend more time building bridges than sending résumés. Relationships are the infrastructure of hiring. Build that first. The first thing I ask anyone who's stuck is: Are you spending 80%+ of your effort building relationships? If not, do that.

When I was at Salesforce, I used this exact cold email framework to book meetings with CEOs, COOs, and CFOs at the biggest companies in the world. Now I coach 100s of reps to use it—and they’re landing meetings that most sellers only dream about. Most reps never get to sell to the C-suite. Not because they don’t work hard. But because they reach out with transactional garbage that looks like every other email in the inbox. Executives don’t want another seller. They want a partner who understands their business. Here’s the cold email formula that works: 1. Warm and personal Lead with a sincere compliment. “I saw your podcast on ___…” “I read your Forbes interview and was moved by…” Show them you did your homework. Not some AI-generated flattery—real human admiration. 2. Shared values or struggle Make it human. “I related deeply when you talked about overcoming ___. I’ve faced something similar.” Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s how you earn trust. 3. Research-backed insight Cite a 10-K, public statement, or article. “Based on your Q1 earnings call, I noticed you're focused on X.” Link to the source. Build credibility. 4. A sharp POV + direct linkage Don’t say, “We help companies like yours.” Say, “You’re trying to achieve X. Companies on that journey often hit Y. Here’s how we solve it.” Make the connection crystal clear. 5. Soft CTA, strong conviction No desperate energy. Just: “If this is a priority, would it make sense to connect?” You’re not begging. You’re offering value. If you want my exact cold email template (and to see 13 real email examples me and my clients used to book C-suite meetings) grab them here: https://lnkd.in/g84w_utx

Another sign of how tough the job market is right now? So many people I know won’t even apply to jobs unless they have an internal reference or someone to make an intro for them. Jobs they’re not only qualified for—but genuinely excited about. 😖 And they’re not wrong, either. As I’ve been searching for my next full-time role, I’ve found myself doing the exact same thing. I’ll see an interesting job, and if I don’t know someone who works there, the first thing I do is check LinkedIn to see if I’m connected to anyone who can refer me to someone who does. If I can’t make the connection, I move on. I don’t even apply—to roles I’d crush. 😕 It’s not because I’m a quitter. It’s because when there are 1,500 applicants for VP or C-level roles, it feels almost impossible to stand out. And that’s incredibly depressing because it means: 1️⃣ Job seekers are too discouraged to even apply to roles they’d thrive in. 2️⃣ Companies are missing out on incredible talent because people feel like their resumes will disappear into a black hole. Lose-lose. 🫠 What can job seekers do in this reality when they find a job they’re a great fit for but don’t have a connection—besides skipping over opportunities they’d typically pursue? If you’re like me, you double down and reach out to *every corner* of your network: ➡️ Leverage 2nd-degree connections. Find someone in your network who can introduce you to an employee at the company. Many companies offer great incentives for referrals, so even folks who don’t know you personally may be happy to refer you. ➡️ Use LinkedIn’s “People” search feature. Identify employees at the company and send personalized connection requests. Mention the role you’re excited about, and ask if they’d be open to a quick chat about their experience there. Genuine curiosity can go a long way. ➡️ Reach out directly to the hiring manager. Send a note explaining why you’d be a great fit and what excites you about the role. As someone who’s hired for many positions, I can tell you that a thoughtful, personality-filled message that’s relevant to the role will absolutely stand out. 💡 The crappy reality is that in today’s market, your network really is everything—no matter how amazing you are at your job—so lean on it AND keep building it. (And while not the focus of this post, this also underscores the importance of building your personal brand—now more than ever.) Good luck out there, jobseekers. I feel your pain. This market is unlike anything else. 🫶

When I was job-hunting, I made a big mistake. I used to send out 100+ job applications and hear nothing back. Then I completely changed my job-search strategy. Instead of playing the numbers game, I focused on quality over quantity, and it completely changed my job search. Here’s exactly what worked for me: 🎯 Pick your targets → Make a short list of dream companies you actually want to work for. 🤝 Build real connections → Reach out to people there, ask questions, understand the culture. ☕ Coffee chats > cold apps → 15-20 minutes of conversation can open doors a resume never will. 📩 Ask for referrals → Yes, it feels awkward at first (trust me, I've had my fair share of awkward coffee chats). But referrals get your resume seen. 📝 Personalize everything → Tailor your resume and cover letter so it’s obvious why you’re a fit. Once I did this, I stopped hearing silence and started getting referrals, interviews, and offers. 👉 The “spray and pray” method doesn’t work anymore. Play smarter. Build connections. That’s how you land the job you want. I post weekly job-search tips and recent job postings across tech, consulting and finance here: https://lnkd.in/dMKTvb8w

Hey everyone! I'm excited to share some networking tips that were incredibly helpful during my job search. These strategies helped me navigate the interview process and land a role as a Program Manager at Google. Whether you're breaking into tech, switching careers, or just want to build your network, I hope these tips help you too! Tip 1: Targeted LinkedIn Research Before my interviews at Meta, Uber, and Google, I used LinkedIn to find people who were already in the roles I was targeting. I looked for Program Managers with similar years of experience, as their interview process was likely to be similar to mine. I also searched for alumni from my university (University of Houston - Go Coogs!), as this provided an easier "in" for starting a conversation. Tip 2: Clear and Concise Outreach When reaching out, I always stated that I was interested in [insert job title] roles at their company and requested a 20-minute coffee chat to discuss: - The interview process - Primary skills needed for the role - What success looks like in that position Including specific questions in my initial message dramatically increased my response rate. This approach made it clear to both parties what we would discuss, making efficient use of everyone's time. Tip 3: Focus on Building Relationships While referrals can be helpful, I recommend not asking for them from people you haven't worked with or who haven't seen your work firsthand. I found more long-term value in building genuine relationships through conversations and learning from their experiences. Tip 4: Leverage Diverse Perspectives Meeting with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, provided invaluable insights that helped me shape my resume, LinkedIn profile, and interview responses. For example, during one conversation, I learned that one of the companies valued a "scrappy" approach. I highlighted relevant project examples in my interview and received great feedback. I hope these tips help you in your own networking journey. Remember, building genuine connections and seeking diverse perspectives can make all the difference in your job search. Good luck! #networking #techcareers #jobsearch #interviewtips #careeradvice

Your prospect has 147 unread emails. Yours just got added to the pile. What makes them open YOURS instead of the other 146? After sending thousands of cold emails and generating over $700M in sales throughout my career, I've identified the #1 mistake destroying most cold outreach: ZERO RIGHT PERSONALIZATION. Most reps "spray and pray". Sending the same generic template to 1,000 prospects hoping something sticks. Then they wonder why their response rate is 0.5%. Here's the cold email framework that consistently gets 20%+ response rates:  → Make your subject line about THEM, not you. Use recent news, achievements, or common pain points to spark curiosity. Example: "Your Inc 5000 ranking" or "Austin expansion" 1. Keep your email so simple it doesn't require scrolling. It MUST be mobile friendly, as 68% of executives check email primarily on their phones. 2. Use this 3 part structure:  → Personal opener: "Hey [Name], [specific personalization about them]"  → Show understanding: "In chatting with other [title] in [industry], they're typically running into [pain point]"  → Soft CTA: "Got a few ideas that might help. Open to chat?" 3. Research these personalization sources: • Company website (values, mission page) • Press releases • LinkedIn activity • Earnings transcripts (for public companies) • Review sites The hardest territory to manage isn't your CRM. It's the six inches between your prospect's ears. They don't care about your product. They care about THEMSELVES. Recently, one of my clients was struggling with a 1.2% response rate on cold emails. We implemented this framework, and within 2 weeks they hit 17.4% - with prospects actually THANKING them for the personalized outreach. Find your sweet spot on the personalization spectrum. You can't do hyper personalized video for everyone, but you can't blast the same generic template either. — Hey reps… want another cold email strategy? Go here: https://lnkd.in/gKSzmCda