Strategic Networking For Software Engineers
Dev Leader Weekly 92
TL; DR:
No, networking isn't a silver bullet.
Yes, you should absolutely be doing it.!!
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Strategic Networking For Software Engineers
If you're trying to break into software engineering right now -- whether you're in college, just finished a bootcamp, or teaching yourself -- you’re probably feeling the pressure.
You're building projects.
You're grinding LeetCode.
You're sending out dozens (or hundreds) of applications.
And still... crickets.
Meanwhile, you watch classmates or random connections land jobs even though, by their own admission, they can barely code. Well, at least that was the case in the Reddit post I responded to on Code Commute:
I get it though. It's frustrating. It's confusing.
But you’re potentially missing a key piece of the puzzle: Networking.
Not "fake networking" where you spam people asking for favors. Real networking -- building genuine professional connections that open doors.
Let’s dig into why it matters, how to do it without being cringey, and how you can start today.
Why Networking Isn’t Optional
When you're early in your career, you are competing against massive numbers of candidates. I'm sure you're hyper-aware of that currently, especially if you're reading this looking for insights!
Many of these candidates look exactly the same on paper:
Same degree (or bootcamp)
Same types of portfolio projects
Same general coding knowledge
Recruiters are overwhelmed. Hiring managers are inundated. There's noise that you need to break through.
Networking helps you break through that noise.
It doesn't guarantee anything. But it dramatically improves your odds:
A human who knows your name is more likely to flag your resume.
A recruiter who interacted with you is more likely to invite you to interview.
An engineer you had a real conversation with might refer you -- or at least vouch that you seem serious.
It's not a silver bullet, but you are absolutely increasing your surface area for luck -- which, by the way, is the theme of an interview I did with Scott Hanselman:
Balancing Technical Work and Networking
Let me be clear though: Networking alone won't save you.
You still should build real projects.
You still need to practice coding.
You still need to prep for interviews.
But networking multiplies the impact of everything else you’re doing.
You don't have to spend your entire day networking. You don't need to become a full-time LinkedIn influencer -- but if you want to learn in public and post to different platforms, you can try my platform BrandGhost for free!
You just need to be consistent.
Actionable Tip:
Allocate at least 20% of your career development time to networking.
That could be a few hours a week. Enough to stay active without losing momentum on your coding skills.
How Real Networking Actually Works
Forget cold DMing random people asking for referrals or to review your resume.
Effective networking looks a lot more like building relationships based on curiosity and respect.
Here’s the basic approach:
Pick 5–10 companies you're interested in.
Be specific. Not just "anywhere that will hire me." Think about industries you care about, missions you align with, or technologies you want to work with.Find employees who work there.
Engineers, managers, recruiters -- anyone you can reasonably connect with.Engage thoughtfully.
Follow them on LinkedIn.
Comment on posts where you have something meaningful to add.
Get on their radar without immediately asking for anything.Reach out respectfully.
Send a short, genuine message. Example:
"Hi [Name], I've been learning a lot from your posts about [topic]. I'm really interested in [topic] and would love to hear what working on [Company/Team] is like when you have a moment."
That's it. You are opening a door. Not barging in.
Actionable Tip:
Get on LinkedIn. Use up your connection requests regularly to strategically connect.
Start at least three new conversations per week after you've started making some connections.
Consistency is far more important than intensity.
What NOT To Do
You’d be amazed how many people blow potential opportunities by coming out of the gate too hot.
Avoid these mistakes:
Sending your resume unsolicited in a cold DM
Asking for a referral in the first message
Making your first contact all about what you want
Getting annoyed if people don’t reply immediately
Networking is about giving before asking. It's about building familiarity first, not extracting favors from strangers. You need to keep in mind that these people are busy with their own priorities too.
Actionable Tip:
Before you send any message, gut-check it by asking:
"If I got this message out of the blue from a stranger while I was busy with work, would I follow up and make time, or would I dismiss it?"
If it feels transactional, rewrite it. Remember, we don't want to start by making demands of strangers.
Moving From Conversations to Opportunities
You had a good chat. Maybe even a few. Now what?
You don’t need to force anything.
You don't need to close a "deal."
Instead, you let things evolve naturally:
Keep engaging with their content.
Share updates about what you're building or learning.
Occasionally ask for advice without making demands.
And when the time feels right -- when the relationship feels real -- you can say:
"I'm currently exploring opportunities in [area]. If you hear about any roles opening up, I'd appreciate being kept in mind."
It's low-pressure. It's respectful. It keeps the door open.
You might even ask if there's someone else they can recommend you get connected with to learn more. Expand your network.
Actionable Tip:
At the end of any good networking conversation, ask:
"Is there anyone else you think I should connect with to learn more?"
Sometimes that one question unlocks entire networks you never even knew existed.
Why Building Projects Still Matters
Some people do land jobs mostly through schmoozing. It's not something I'm good at, so it's not something I suggest people go all in on.
But that doesn’t mean you should abandon technical skill development.
Here’s the reality:
If you get an interview, you still need to pass it.
If you get hired, you still need to deliver real work (surprise!)
You can network your way into opportunity, but you can't network your way out of incompetence once you're there.
Actionable Tip:
Always be building.
Small projects. Side projects.
Even basic apps that solve problems you personally care about.
If nothing else, they give you something real to talk about during your networking conversations.
Offline Networking: Still Powerful, Still Underrated
Not everything has to happen online. You have a solid number of options that you could go check out in person if you go looking:
Meetups
Conferences
Hackathons
Local tech talks
These places are gold mines for real, memorable connections. When you meet someone face-to-face:
The interaction sticks longer.
The competition is lower.
The trust builds faster.
Actionable Tip:
Find and attend one tech event per month in your area, even if it's small.
You don’t need to "sell yourself." Just show up, listen, and be a real human being.
Over time, those casual conversations often lead to the best opportunities.
Handling Frustration and Staying Focused
It’s easy to get bitter when you see other people succeeding faster.
Especially if you feel that you’re technically stronger. But resentment doesn’t move you forward. What others are doing is completely outside of your control, and it's a lousy use of your energy to care about it too much.
What moves you forward is action:
Building your network one honest conversation at a time
Learning from what IS working for others
Doubling down on your growth
Actionable Tip:
Set goals you can control:
Start 3 networking conversations per week
Finish 1 project per month
Apply to 5 roles where I have some connection
... and tailor these to suit YOUR goals more specifically.
Quick Networking Playbook
If you only remember one thing from this article, remember this:
Networking is about planting seeds. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Here's your simple starter playbook:
Give value where you can if you're networking on socials -- thoughtful comments, genuine interest.
Build real, interesting projects. This lets you practice and have topics to discuss with others.
Keep building your tech skills so you’re ready when opportunity knocks.
Follow and engage with engineers, recruiters, and managers.
Spend 20% of your job search time networking.
Stay consistent even when it feels slow.
Apply broadly, but not blindly.
Be curious, not transactional.
Final Thought
You don't have to be the most charismatic person in the room. You don't have to fake a personality you don't have.
You just have to show up with genuine curiosity, consistent effort, and respect for people's time.
If you do that -- week after week, month after month -- your network will grow. Eventually, so will your opportunities.
Networking isn’t magic. It’s work. But it’s work that pays off when you commit to doing it the right way.
Marathon, not a sprint. Get planting those seeds!
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As always, thanks so much for your support! I hope you enjoyed this issue, and I'll see you next week.
Nick “Dev Leader” Cosentino
social@devleader.ca
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