Not every job opening is advertised publicly. In some cases, employers find a suitable candidate through existing employees’ contacts, and a recruitment process may effectively be settled before an open application process even begins.
Arja Martikainen, a senior consultant at Finnish employment services company Barona who specialises in recruiting technology professionals, says building and maintaining professional networks can therefore pay off long before a job search becomes necessary.
Networks can also help when a single vacancy attracts hundreds or even thousands of applications. A recommendation can give an employer additional confidence in a candidate’s skills and way of working.
“A recommendation obviously does not replace competence, but it can help you get noticed. Connections alone will not get you a job, but they may give you the opportunity to show what you can do,” Martikainen says.
She stresses that networks take time to build. They gradually develop through studies, work, hobbies, social media and everyday encounters.
“Many people find networking uncomfortable because in our culture it can easily be seen as artificial or overly ambitious. Networking is absolutely not about elbowing others aside. It is about genuine interest in other people,” Martikainen says.
“The best networks are built over years by doing your work well and helping others.”
Six ways to build your professional network
1. Stay in touch with classmates after graduation
Your fellow students will not remain students forever. A few years later, they may be working as specialists, managers or even hiring decision-makers at companies that interest you.
Relationships formed through group projects, student organisations, internships and summer jobs can remain useful for years.
2. Be active on social media, especially LinkedIn
LinkedIn is particularly focused on professional networking, but simply having a profile does not create a network.
Martikainen recommends commenting on other people’s posts, sharing relevant content and congratulating contacts on their achievements. It can also be useful to talk about your own expertise and professional interests.
When sending a connection request, include a short message explaining where you met or why you would like to connect.
3. Put your phone away and talk to people
Networking can also happen in unexpected situations. A conversation in a coffee queue, on a train or at a party may stay in someone’s mind for years.
Hobbies, volunteering and organisational activities can also introduce you to people working in industries or companies that interest you.
“Small talk is not meaningless chatter — it is social glue. The person sitting next to you on the morning bus may travel alongside you on weekday mornings for years. Put your phone in your pocket and start a conversation,” Martikainen suggests.
4. Do your job well and be a good colleague
According to Martikainen, one of the best forms of networking is simply doing good work.
When you handle your responsibilities carefully and are a good colleague, former co-workers, supervisors and customers may later be willing to recommend you for another role.
5. Leave a good impression even if you are not hired
An unsuccessful recruitment process does not have to be a wasted opportunity.
Thank the employer, ask for feedback if appropriate and make it clear that you remain interested in the company. Employers sometimes return to candidates they remember when another vacancy opens.
“In my own work, I have seen people hired for jobs they never even applied for. The most common reason is a change in a team — someone leaves and a replacement is needed,” Martikainen says.
6. Remember that networking works both ways
A good network is reciprocal. Tell a contact about an open position, introduce two people who could benefit from knowing each other or highlight a colleague’s success.
Helping others also makes it more likely that they will remember you later.
Martikainen says networking should not become another source of pressure. Professional contacts are not a requirement for finding a new job, but they can make the search easier.
“Consciously building a network can sometimes feel exhausting. In the end, it is worth remembering that you do not have to do everything at once. Many good connections develop naturally when you do your work well and take an interest in other people.”