Got some real talk at a meetup in Austin that changed my whole job search

I was at a tech meetup in Austin last year, feeling pretty stuck after sending out like 50 applications with no calls back. This senior dev, Sarah, told me to stop just applying online and start reaching out directly to hiring managers on LinkedIn with a short note about a project they did. I tried it for my next 20 apps and got 3 interviews. Anyone else switch from just applying to actually connecting and have it work better?

4 comments

4 Comments

patricia26216d ago

Honestly, that approach always felt a bit pushy to me. I had way better luck just asking people in my network for a quick chat. A few of those casual talks actually led to someone handing my resume directly to their boss, which felt way more natural.

shane_hayes16d ago

My old boss used to say forcing a connection is like trying to make small talk in an elevator, it just feels off. Patricia's point about casual chats is spot on because it mirrors how trust actually builds. People help when it doesn't feel like a transaction, like grabbing coffee with a friend of a friend. That natural flow is what gets your resume to the right desk, not a cold message that puts someone on the spot.

nelson.vera16d agoMost Upvoted

What kind of short note did you send on LinkedIn that actually got a response? Just saying you liked their project seems too basic.

the_drew2d ago

Tried the short note thing for a while. Honestly, most people are too busy to care about a random compliment. I just ask a specific question about one line on their profile now, like how they moved from engineering to product management. Gets a reply maybe half the time.