Let me guess how your job search has been going.

You find a job on LinkedIn or Handshake. You spend 30 minutes adjusting your resume. You fill out the application. You answer the questions. You upload the documents. You click Submit.

And then you do it again.

And again.

And again.

After a few weeks, your job search starts to feel like this:

Application → Application → Application → Application → 😭

Applying online is not wrong. You absolutely should apply for jobs online. But in the United States, an effective job search usually involves much more than submitting applications and hoping someone on the other side notices you.

A stronger job-search ecosystem often looks more like this:

Application → Networking → Referral → Interview → Follow-up

That doesn't mean every American gets a job through a personal connection, or that submitting an application isn't important. It means that the application is often just one part of the process, not the entire strategy.

And for many international students, this can be one of the strangest parts of searching for your first job in America. In many cultures, approaching someone you don't know professionally can feel intrusive or uncomfortable. You may think, Why would I message this person? They don't know me. Why would they want to talk to me?

That's exactly where networking can feel intimidating. But networking in the U.S. is not supposed to be walking up to strangers and saying, "Can you get me a job?"

It is much more often about starting a conversation.

Networking Is Not Asking Strangers for a Job

This is probably the biggest misconception I want you to leave behind. Networking does not mean collecting hundreds of LinkedIn connections. It does not mean sending random people, "Hi, I am looking for a job. Please refer me." And it certainly does not mean pretending to be friends with someone because you want something from them.

Good networking is much simpler.

You meet someone. You learn about their work. You ask thoughtful questions. You share a little about your own interests. You stay in touch. Over time, that person knows who you are and what you're interested in. Then, when they see an opening that might be a good fit, you are no longer a completely unknown name in a pile of applications.

That's the power of networking. You are building professional familiarity. And that can happen in far more places than you probably realize.

So What Is a Referral, Anyway?

A referral is not a golden ticket. It does not mean someone guarantees you a job. It also does not mean you automatically get an interview. A referral generally means that someone who already works at a company recommends or refers a candidate for a position.

Think about the difference:

Company A receives 400 applications for a position. Your resume is one of them.

Company B receives your application, but someone inside the company also says, "I know this student. We spoke recently, and I think they could be a strong fit for this role."

The hiring process is still the hiring process. You still have to be qualified. You still have to interview. You still have to earn the job. But now there is a human connection attached to your name. This is why networking should happen before you desperately need a job. A referral is much more natural when you've actually built a relationship with someone than when you've found a job posting five minutes ago and immediately ask a stranger to refer you.

Start With People Who Are Easier to Reach Than You Think

When I tell students to network, they often imagine they need to find executives at major corporations. You don't. Start much closer to home. Your university probably has thousands of alumni working across the country and around the world. Many of them remember exactly what it was like to be a student trying to figure out what came next.

Search LinkedIn for graduates from your university who work in your field or at companies you are interested in. You can also ask your career center whether they have an alumni database, mentoring program, networking events, or connections they can help facilitate.

And then send a message. Not a desperate message. A human one.

For example:

"Hi Sarah, I’m a current master's student at the University of Illinois studying data analytics, and I noticed that you also graduated from Illinois and now work at Deloitte. I’m exploring careers in analytics and would love to hear a little about how you made that transition after graduation. Would you be open to a 20-minute conversation sometime in the next few weeks?"

Notice what that message does not say.

It doesn't say, "Can you get me a job?"
​It doesn't say, "Can you refer me?"
​It doesn't send them your entire life story.

You're simply asking to learn from someone who has already walked a path you're considering. That is an informational interview.

How to Ask for an Informational Interview

An informational interview is simply a conversation with someone who can tell you about their experience. It might be 15–30 minutes on Zoom, over the phone, or over coffee. Your goal isn't to convince them to hire you. Your goal is to learn.

You might ask:

• "How did you get into this field?"
• "What do you wish you had known when you were a student?"
• "What skills do you see employers looking for in entry-level candidates?"
• "What does a typical week look like in your role?"
• "Are there particular experiences you would recommend I pursue while I'm still in school?"

These questions turn networking from a transaction into a conversation. And sometimes, something unexpected happens at the end.

They might say, "Actually, we're hiring for an entry-level position right now."
​Or, "You should talk to my colleague in another department."
​Or, "Send me your resume and I'll take a look."
​Or they may know someone else you should meet.

That's where networking starts to create momentum.

Don't Forget Your Professors

Your professors are another group students often overlook. He or she may have industry connections, former students working in companies you are interested in, research partners, professional associations, or colleagues in your field. And because they already know you, you don't have to introduce yourself as a complete stranger.

You can say:

"I'm starting to explore full-time opportunities in supply chain, and I'd love your advice. Are there companies or people in the industry you think I should learn more about?"

You are not asking your professor to find you a job. You're asking for guidance. That distinction matters.

Your Student Organization Is a Networking Opportunity, Too

The same thing applies to student organizations. If you're part of an entrepreneurship club, engineering organization, finance association, cultural organization, consulting club, graduate student group, or professional society, don't only attend the event and leave.

• Talk to people.
• Learn what they do.
• Ask how they got involved.
• Exchange LinkedIn information.
• Follow up afterward.

You may meet another student who interned at the company you want to work for. You may meet a graduate student who knows a hiring manager. You may meet an alum who comes back to speak to the organization. You may even meet someone sitting next to you who becomes a professional connection five years from now.

Networking is not always about meeting the most important person in the room. Sometimes it's about being willing to talk to the person sitting beside you.

Career Fairs Are More Than Resume Drop-Offs

One of the most common mistakes I see students make at career fairs is treating them like a conveyor belt. Don't just walk up, hand over resume, say, "Are you hiring international students?", walk away, move on to the next company, repeat.

Instead, use the career fair to have actual conversations. Research a few companies beforehand. Know what positions they're hiring for. Know something about the company. Then approach the recruiter and introduce yourself.

"Hi, I'm Priya. I'm a second-year master's student in computer science, and I've been really interested in your work in cloud security. I saw that you're hiring for a security analyst internship, and I'd love to hear what you're looking for in candidates."

Now you're having a conversation instead of simply dropping off paper. And when the conversation ends, connect with the recruiter on LinkedIn. Then follow up.

Which brings us to one of the most important parts of networking.

The Follow-Up Is Where Networking Actually Begins

Meeting someone once is not networking. Following up is. This is where many students lose opportunities because they assume that the conversation is over once they walk out of the room.

It isn't.

After a career fair, informational interview, student organization event, guest lecture, or professional event, send a short message.

For example:

"Hi David, it was great speaking with you at the career fair yesterday. I especially appreciated your advice about building experience with SQL and data visualization. I’m going to take a closer look at the analyst roles you mentioned, and I’d love to stay connected."

That's it. You don't need a paragraph. You don't need to ask for something immediately. You are simply keeping the relationship alive. Later, you might have another reason to reconnect.

"Hi David, I remembered our conversation about analyst roles at your company when I saw this opening. I just applied and wanted to say thank you again for the advice you gave me at the career fair."

Now your name is attached to a previous conversation. That's very different from being one more anonymous application.

Your Former Internship Is Already Part of Your Network

And here's one of the easiest opportunities of all: People you've already worked with.

Your former manager. Your supervisor. A coworker. A mentor. A professor you worked with on a project. Someone from another department who helped you during your internship. These people already know something about you. They've seen your work. They've watched you communicate, learn, solve problems, meet deadlines, or contribute to a team. That's valuable.

Stay connected with them on LinkedIn. Send an occasional update. Congratulate them when something significant happens. Let them know what you're working toward. Then, when you're entering your full-time job search, you have people you can genuinely reach out to.

"I'm graduating in May and starting my search for full-time roles in marketing analytics. I really enjoyed working with you last summer, and I wanted to let you know I'm beginning that process. If you hear of anything that might be a fit, I'd be grateful if you kept me in mind."

That is networking. It is professional, direct, and respectful.

LinkedIn Is More Than a Place to Apply

For international students, LinkedIn should be part of your professional presence in the U.S., not simply another job board. Your profile should clearly communicate who you are, what you're studying or doing, what skills you have, and what direction you're pursuing.

But don't stop there.

• Follow companies you're interested in.
• Follow professionals in your field.
• Pay attention to what people are talking about.
• Comment thoughtfully when you have something useful to add.
• Share projects, research, certifications, presentations, or other work you're proud of.

You are creating a digital version of the same thing you're doing in person, you're allowing people to become familiar with you professionally. And when someone eventually looks at your name after meeting you at a career fair or receiving your message, they should be able to understand who you are and what you bring to the table.

There Is a Difference Between Applying and Searching

This is the mindset shift I want you to make. Don't stop applying online. Instead, stop making applications your entire job search. Think of every application as an opportunity to ask:

• Who can I connect with?
• Is there an alum at this company?
• Is there a recruiter on LinkedIn?
• Can I attend an employer event?
• Does someone in my student organization work there?
• Does my professor know someone in this field?
• Did I meet anyone from this company at a career fair?
• Do I have a former internship colleague who works there?
• Can I learn more about the company before I apply?

That is how your job search begins to change. Instead of sending 100 applications into the internet and waiting for something to happen, you're creating multiple paths into the same organization. Maybe one starts with the application. Another starts with an alum. Another starts with a recruiter. Another starts with a professor. Another starts with a former colleague.

And sometimes those paths eventually meet.

One More Important Thing for International Students

Networking can feel especially uncomfortable when you're an international student because you're already learning the rules of a professional culture that may work differently from what you're used to. You may think you're being respectful by waiting for someone more senior to initiate the relationship.

In many U.S. professional settings, though, taking the initiative is expected. That might mean introducing yourself. Sending the LinkedIn request. Asking someone for coffee. Following up after a conversation. Emailing a professor. Reaching out to an alum. Asking a former supervisor to stay in touch.

It may feel awkward the first few times. Do it anyway. You don't have to become the most outgoing person in your program. You simply have to become comfortable taking the first step.

Be genuinely curious. Learn from people. Offer value when you can. Keep your promises. Say thank you. Stay in touch. Build relationships before you need them. That's the kind of networking that actually lasts.

Go talk to people.

Cheers ☕