Job Referral Tips

Stop (only) applying for jobs. I'm serious. While everyone will help, here is what actually works: ✅ Spend that time building relationships with people at companies you want to work for. Here's the math no one talks about: 100 applications = 2-3 callbacks (if you're lucky) 10 genuine connections = 5-7 opportunities How do I know? Hiring and getting hired are very similar. So far, all my hires were referrals and introductions. All my clients came through the same. I've placed hundreds of designers. The ones who got hired fastest? They weren't the ones with the most applications. They were the ones who: → DMed designers at target companies about their work (I've hired people who did this at Miro) → Commented thoughtfully on posts from hiring managers → Asked for 15-minute coffee chats, not job talk at first → Built relationships BEFORE they needed them (that's the actual gold here) Real example from last week: The designer spent 3 months engaging with the design lead's content. When a role opened up? She got a DM: "We have something perfect for you." Never even posted publicly. Meanwhile, 847 other designers are fighting over the LinkedIn posting 👹 But here's the part no one teaches you — WHO to reach out to: ✓ Someone I aspire to get to know ✓ Someone's career I aspire to have ✓ Someone who works where I'd like to work ✓ Someone who may be going through similar challenges ✓ Someone I will have lots to talk about And here's how I prioritize companies and roles: First, I map out my network: → Find all my previous colleagues — where do they work now? → Find all open roles — what's relevant and what sounds like the best fit? → What can I see about those environments from JDs and career websites? This gives me a targeted list of: ✨ Companies where I already have warm connections ✨ Roles that actually match my skills ✨ Environments I'd thrive in (not just survive) Smart networking > no applications > successful hires. Every. Single. Time. The best jobs aren't advertised. They go to people already in the conversation. So stop being application #248. Start being the person they think of first. Your time is better spent building one real connection than sending 20 applications into the black hole. Trust me on this one. 💬 How did you get your last role: application or connection? Tell me and let's do some market research together ⬇️

I asked 443 people who landed a job in the last 6 months how they did it - and because I'm relentless, I DM’d several of them for the details 👀 Here’s what they said: - 39% got hired through a job application only - 38% landed their role through a referral or someone in their network - 11% were reached out to directly - 12% marked “other” and DM'd me (saving these gems for another post!) For this post, I wanna talk about referrals. Because every time I bring them up, I get feedback from people who swear that referrals don’t make a lick of difference in their application. But the data says otherwise!! Referrals are JUST as effective as job applications. So why do so many people think they don’t work? My guess - it comes down to how people think about networking, and who they are networking with. Many assume networking = cold DM’ing your LinkedIn connections that work at your target company, and asking them to essentially tag you in the company’s ATS as a “referral”. This might work… sometimes… if you’re lucky. But for all the people that landed jobs and shared their stories, this was what actually worked: 💡 It’s not just about knowing someone at the company - it’s about knowing someone with hiring influence. - A hiring manager referred a rejected candidate to a colleague at another company - and they got hired. - A former supervisor vouched for someone internally, even when no job was posted. - Someone got passed over at first, but their referrer kept advocating for them - so when the first-choice hire didn't work out, they got the offer. 💡 Most referrals didn’t come from cold outreach - they came from past colleagues, former bosses, or professional acquaintances. - Someone caught up with an old coworker and learned about an unposted job. - Another had a standing check-in with a former boss, who later hired them at a new company. - One person told their manager they wanted to leave, and instead of quitting, the company created a role just to keep them. 💡 Cold outreach worked - but only when it wasn’t just about asking for a referral. - Someone cold-called companies just to ask what they look for in an employee. The CEO liked their initiative and invited them for an interview. - Another reached out on LinkedIn not for a referral, but to learn about someone's career path. That conversation led to a job. 💡 Some of the best networking didn’t even feel like networking. - A job seeker met a company director at trivia night, followed up, and got an interview. - Another ran into someone at the gym, and that casual chat led to a job. - A plus-one at a work event struck up a conversation - months later, they got hired at the company. So, the TLDR: Networking is effective when approached with the goal of building meaningful relationships, with people in positions of hiring influence, so that you are top of mind when the right opportunities come up. Have a story to share about networking efforts that lead to new opportunities? Let's hear it!

Sending another application today? Cool. Just know that hitting 'submit' isn't the win you think. Here's the thing: applications feel productive. They're measurable. They're safe. But they're not moving you forward 👇 STEP 1) Redefine your finish line - Stop counting applications sent. Start counting conversations had. One real conversation with someone at your target company beats 20 cold applications every single time. - The goal isn't volume, it's connection. STEP 2) Pick one person this week - Find someone doing the work you want to do. Someone who's been where you're trying to go. Reach out with a clear, specific ask. "I'd love 15 minutes to learn how you approached X" works better than "Can I pick your brain?" - Make it easy for them to say yes. STEP 3) Show up prepared - Don't waste their time with questions Google could answer. Come with insight. Share what you've learned about their company, their role, their challenges. - Ask how they'd approach a problem you're thinking through. - This isn't an interview, it's a conversation between two professionals. STEP 4) Follow through - After the call, send a thank you. Share something useful. Stay visible. The relationship doesn't end when the Zoom closes. - People refer candidates they remember, not resumes they forgot. The application makes you feel busy. The conversation makes you memorable. Leave the dopamine hit of clicking 'apply' behind. Start building the relationships that actually open doors. One conversation this week. That's the finish line that matters. Go find it ✌🏼

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

Don't Message a Recruiter Like This 🚫 "Hi, I hope you’re doing well! I’m interested in the role you posted: Software Engineer. Based on my experience as Software Engineer, I believe I could be a good fit. Are you open to a quick chat to discuss the position? I’d love to learn more about it. I look forward to hearing from you." 👇 Do This Instead ✅ " Hi [Name], I hope you're doing well. I recently came across the [Job Title] opening at [Company Name] and was impressed by [specific aspect of the company or role]. With [X years of experience] in [Your Field], passion for [relevant industry or skill] and [your skills that matches job requirements], I believe I could contribute to [specific team or project]. I would love to connect and discuss how my background aligns with the needs of the team. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the possibility of working together!" 🔑 Why The Second Approach Works: ✅ Personalization: Addressing the recruiter by name and mentioning something specific about the company shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested. ✅ Value Proposition: Highlighting your experience and how it aligns with the role demonstrates your suitability and adds value to your pitch. ✅ Professional Courtesy: Acknowledging their time and expressing eagerness to connect makes your message respectful and engaging. Your approach to recruiters can make a lasting first impression—make it count! 💼 #JobSearch #CareerTips #LinkedIn #JobSeekingTips #FirstImpression #BeProfessional #YourNextRole #GetHired #GetInterviews

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.

Getting referrals on LinkedIn can feel challenging, but a few simple strategies can make the process much easier. When I was applying for jobs, these steps helped me connect with people and improve my chances of getting referred. Let me share them with you: Before asking for a referral, make sure the job aligns with your skills and experience. Read the job description carefully to check the required skill set and years of experience. Referrals are most effective when you’re genuinely qualified for the role. Avoid sending vague messages like “Hi” or “Hello” without context. Instead, send a complete message right from the start. Mention the job title, job link, or job ID, and attach your updated resume so the person has all the details they need. Keep your message short, clear, and easy to read. Avoid writing long paragraphs that might discourage someone from responding. A concise, polite message increases your chances of getting noticed. Don’t rely on just one or two people for a referral. Reach out to at least 10–15 people for the same job because not everyone will respond or be in a position to help. Expanding your reach improves your chances. It’s a good idea to have two versions of your resume with the same content but different contact details. Apply manually to the job using one resume, and use the other when requesting referrals. This ensures you don’t lose time while waiting for a referral, as early applicants often get priority. Build connections in your target companies before you need referrals. If you start sending connection requests after seeing a job post, you might face delays. Networking in advance makes the process smoother when you’re actively applying. These steps made a big difference for me, and I hope they’ll help you too. If you’ve used other strategies that worked well, share them in the comments. Let’s learn from each other!

Online applications have a 2% response rate. Referrals have a 40% hiring rate. And yet, every Monday, lakhs of candidates are still refreshing their inbox waiting for a callback that'll never come. Why referrals work the way they do: > Most job openings never go public: 70% of positions are filled before they're even posted. > Your resume sits in an ATS with 500 others. A referral skips the queue entirely. > Recruiters get 250+ applications per role. They act on referrals within 24 hours. What actually gets you referred (that nobody tells you): ✔️ Your LinkedIn activity matters more than your DMs: Commenting on posts of people in your target company gets you on their radar before you even ask. Recruiters notice who engages consistently. ✔️ The ask is everything: Don't say "Can you refer me?" Say "I noticed an opening for X at your company. Here's my resume. Would you be comfortable sharing it with your HR?" Specific. Easy to act on. ✔️ Second-degree connections are underrated: Your best referral won't always come from a close friend. It'll come from someone you helped, worked with briefly, or engaged with online. Map your second-degree network first. ✔️ Internal job boards > public job boards: Many companies post on internal boards 1–2 weeks before going public. A connection inside the company can flag this for you before 500 people apply. ✔️ One strong referral > ten cold applications: Companies hire referred candidates 55% faster. They stay longer. They perform better. Hiring managers trust a known source over an unknown resume. If you're job hunting right now, stop spending 4 hours applying blindly. Spend those rebuilding your referral network instead. That's where the offers are hiding. #jobsearch #referral #hiring #careertips #dreamjob #interviewcoach #network

I’ve sent 10,000+ cold emails in my career. Those emails have generated $100M+ in revenue. Here are 11 tips to help you 10x your response rates: 1. Set Your Expectations If you're new to cold emailing, expect a 5% response rate. As you improve, you can boost that to ~20%+. It's important to know that the best cold emailers still hear "No" far more than they hear "Yes." But you only need a few "Yeses" to win. 2. Email Multiple Contacts Most people send one email to one contact and give up. Emailing multiple people increases your surface area for success. You never know who you'll catch at the right moment! I personally recommending emailing 5 different people at your target org. 3. Your Subject Line Data from multiple sources shows that subject lines with the highest response rates: - Are 2-4 words long (Boomerang) - Ask a question (Yesware) - Are ambiguous (Boomerang) My favorites are: - Quick Question? - Mentioning You? - [Result] In [Y] Time? 4. Write Like A 3rd Grader Data shows that emails written at a 3rd grade level see the highest response rates. That means: ✅ Use plain, simple language ❌ Avoid complex words and jargon I love HemingwayApp's Readability score for this. 5. Be Positive! Data also shows that a positive tone can boost response rates by ~15%. Aim to have a casual, positive vibe in your writing. To get there, pretend like you're writing this email to a friend. Also try to write the way that you speak. 6. Use A 3 Second Hook Most emails start with something like: "Hope you're having a good day!" That's boring. Instead, hook your contact with a personalized, value-driven statement. Ex: "Hey Tim, I want to help [Company] 3x your CVR in 30 days, below are 3 ways to do it." 7. Over Deliver On Value People avoid click bait. Your hook might seem that way, so follow it up with even more value: - Share relevant ideas - Show how to implement them - Provide real data The goal is to get your contact to take action and see real value. 8. Use Social Proof Social proof is one of the most effective trust builders. Weave it into your email in the form of: - Mentioning a mutual contact - Linking to case studies - Including testimonials The key is to do this naturally, not like a brand marketing email. 9. Use An "Exit Clause" No one wants to feel pressured. Everyone wants control. Tap into both by ending your email with an "Exit Clause." This is a statement when you recognize their time and give them an easy "out." 10. Follow Up! 44% of cold emailers give up after the first attempt. But 60% of prospects say "No" four times before they say "Yes." If you want to win? You need to follow up! I personally recommend four follow ups every 5 business days. Use Yesware to automate these.

🚀 Don’t wait for job postings to apply! 🚀 Many of the best job opportunities are never posted on LinkedIn—they’re filled through internal networks and referrals. So how can you position yourself to hear about these roles before they’re advertised? Here’s how to build a network of allies at your target companies and get ahead of the competition: 1️⃣ Identify Key Players Start by researching people at your target companies who work in roles or departments you’re interested in. These could be managers, team leads, or even peers who could eventually refer you. 👉 Example: If you’re targeting a marketing role at a tech company, find key people on LinkedIn by searching for titles like “Marketing Manager,” “Head of Digital Strategy,” or “VP of Marketing” at that company. 2️⃣ Engage with Their Content Regularly Before reaching out, engage with their posts on LinkedIn. Like, comment, or share their updates with meaningful insights. This helps you get on their radar in a non-intrusive way and shows that you’re genuinely interested in their work. 👉 Example: “Great post, [Name]! Your thoughts on data-driven marketing really resonate with me. I’ve been working on similar projects and would love to hear more about your approach.” This kind of engagement opens the door for future conversations. 3️⃣ Reach Out for an Informational Interview Once you’ve built some familiarity, send a personalized message requesting a short chat. This isn’t about asking for a job—it's about learning more about their experience and the company culture. 👉 Example: “Hi [Name], I’ve been following [Company] for a while, and your work in [specific area] caught my attention. I’d love to hear more about your journey and what it’s like working at [Company]. Would you have 15 minutes for a quick virtual coffee?” Building relationships through these conversations will keep you top of mind when new roles open up. 4️⃣ Stay Connected and Add Value Keep in touch with the people in your network by sharing relevant articles, offering your help, or simply sending an occasional check-in message. This keeps your connection warm and maintains the relationship. 👉 Example: “Hi [Name], I recently came across an article on [industry trend] and thought you might find it interesting based on our previous conversation. Hope all is well!” By adding value to the relationship, you’ll increase the chances of being referred or hearing about opportunities before they’re posted. 💡 Final Tip: Remember, networking is about relationships, not just job leads. By investing in connections with key people at your target companies, you’ll be positioned to hear about hidden opportunities and make a lasting impression before the job even hits the market. Have you ever landed a job through networking? Share your story below! 💬👇 #Networking #JobSearch #HiddenOpportunities #LinkedInTips #CareerGrowth #Referrals