---
title: "How Do I Network When I Don't Know Anyone in My Industry?"
description: "Start with warm contacts, not cold strangers. A practical guide to building a professional network from scratch, with an informational interview template and referral data."
canonical: "https://mortit.com/blog/how-to-network-when-you-dont-know-anyone"
---
Job Search

# How Do I Network When I Don't Know Anyone in My Industry?

The problem is not that you know nobody. It's that most people start with cold outreach when warm contacts convert far better. Here is how to build from zero.

8 min read Updated October 2026

By [Arash Abdollahi](https://mortit.com/about), Founder Published by [MORT](https://mortit.com/) Updated October 2026

TL;DR

**Start with people who already know you** (former classmates, coworkers from adjacent roles, professors), not strangers. Three working tactics: warm contacts first, LinkedIn second-degree connections via shared context, and industry communities (Slack groups, meetups). Referrals are roughly 40% of hires despite making up only about 7% of applicants (Jobvite). A well-matched job application is also the fastest way to start a real conversation with a hiring manager.

The most common version of this question sounds like: "I'm changing industries and I genuinely don't know anyone there. Where do I start?" The answer is almost always the same: you know more people than you think, and the ones you already know are the right place to start.

Cold networking (sending messages to complete strangers on LinkedIn) is the last tactic to try, not the first. Here is the order that actually works.

## You know more people than you think

Before sending a single cold message, map your existing network. Write down everyone you know in three categories:

-   **Direct overlap:** former classmates now in your target industry, professors, past managers or coworkers who moved into related fields.
-   **Adjacent overlap:** people in roles that interact with yours (vendors, clients, partners from previous jobs).
-   **Indirect:** family contacts or friends who work at companies you are interested in, even in unrelated roles.

A second-degree connection via a shared employer, course, or community is significantly easier to convert than a cold stranger. On LinkedIn, search for people at your target companies and filter by shared connections, schools, or groups before deciding to reach out cold.

#### Before cold outreach: use warm paths

If you find a relevant person on LinkedIn and you share a connection, ask that mutual contact for an introduction. A short note from someone they already know converts at a far higher rate than a cold connection request, and it costs you a two-sentence email.

## Step-by-step from zero

1

#### Map your warm contacts

Open LinkedIn and search for anyone you know directly who works in or adjacent to your target industry. Check your university alumni directory too. Do not filter for seniority at this stage: a peer one year ahead of you who made the jump is often more helpful than a VP who does not remember you.

2

#### Ask for introductions through mutual contacts

For second-degree connections you want to reach, ask your mutual contact: "Would you be comfortable making a quick email intro to \[Name\]? I'm exploring \[industry\] and think a 20-minute conversation would be valuable." A warm introduction converts better than any cold message.

3

#### Send informational interview requests

For contacts you can reach directly, send a short three-sentence message: who you are, why you reached out to them specifically, and a low-effort ask for 20 minutes. See the template in the next section.

4

#### Build presence in industry communities

Join relevant Slack workspaces, Discord servers, subreddits, or local meetup groups for your target field. Contribute before asking for anything: answer questions, share useful links, comment on others' posts. After a few weeks you have a visible track record and a reason to reach out directly.

5

#### Apply to well-matched roles in parallel

Direct applications and networking are not alternatives. When you apply to a role you genuinely fit, you have a specific reason to reach out to someone at that company. That context makes the networking conversation more relevant and easier for both sides.

## How to ask for an informational interview

The most effective outreach is short, specific, and easy to say yes to. Here is a template that works across LinkedIn messages, email, and alumni platforms:

#### Informational interview template

"Hi \[Name\], I'm moving into \[field\] from \[background\] and came across your work at \[company / in \[community\]\]. I'd appreciate 20 minutes to hear how you got into \[role/area\] and what you'd focus on if you were starting fresh. Happy to work around your schedule."

A few notes on what makes this work. First, it names a specific time limit (20 minutes), which removes the fear of an open-ended commitment. Second, the question "what you'd focus on if you were starting fresh" is easy and interesting to answer. Third, it does not ask for a job. In the first conversation, ask good questions and listen. The job lead, if it comes, comes from the follow-up relationship.

For the specific case of reaching out to a recruiter you have found online, the approach is slightly different. See our guide on [how to reach out to a recruiter on LinkedIn](https://mortit.com/blog/how-to-reach-out-to-recruiter-on-linkedin) for that version.

## Strong vs. weak networking moves

The difference between networking that works and networking that annoys people comes down to one thing: whether you are making it easy and low-risk for the other person. Here is what that looks like in practice.

| Situation | Weak move | Strong move |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **LinkedIn message** | "Hi, I'm looking for a job. Can you help?" | Short informational ask: who you are, why them specifically, 20-minute call to learn about their path. |
| **First conversation** | "Do you know of any openings?" | "What's one thing you'd focus on if you were building your skills in this area now?" |
| **Follow-up** | None, or following up weeks later to ask for a referral. | A thank-you note the same day, plus one relevant article or link they might find useful. |
| **Staying in touch** | Messaging only when you need something. | Share something useful to them quarterly with no ask attached. |
| **LinkedIn presence** | Sending connection requests with no message or context. | Comment genuinely on their post first, then send the connection request. It is a warm signal, not spam. |

The "strong move" examples are practitioner patterns based on what tends to generate responses, not measured conversion data.

## Why networking matters alongside direct applications

You may have seen the claim that "80% of jobs are filled through networking". That figure is widely repeated but poorly sourced: there is no rigorous study behind it. Do not build a strategy around a number with no traceable origin.

The data that is well-sourced points in the same direction, just more precisely. Long-cited [Jobvite data](https://www.jobvite.com/blog/4-reasons-to-invest-in-employee-referrals/) puts employee referrals at roughly **7% of applicants but around 40% of hires.** The math is stark: a tiny share of the applicant pool produces a disproportionate share of the people who actually get hired.

That does not mean applying to jobs directly is a waste of time. It means that networking and direct applications are most effective as a parallel strategy, not a choice between them. When you apply to a well-matched role through a job board and you also know someone at that company, you have both the direct application in the system and a relationship that can turn into a referral. For more on building that referral path, see [how to ask for a job referral](https://mortit.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-job-referral).

On direct applications: the quality of the match matters. An application to a role you are genuinely a fit for is also a credible reason to reach out to the hiring manager or a team member at that company. That context makes the networking conversation more natural. This is the specific gap [MORT](https://mortit.com/features/job-matching) is built for: it scans thousands of company career pages, scores every role 0-100% for compatibility with your skills and experience, and generates a tailored resume for each application. When you apply to a role where you are a strong fit, you have something real to say in a networking message.

## How long does building a network take?

Expect 3 to 12 months before networking produces a real referral or introduction. That is not a reason to skip it: it is a reason to start it now while also working the direct application track.

The things that compress the timeline: a warm path rather than cold outreach, genuine curiosity about the other person's work rather than a pure ask, and consistency (showing up in communities and following up without always having an agenda).

For a deeper look at how to run both tracks together, the [mass apply vs. tailoring comparison](https://mortit.com/blog/mass-apply-vs-tailoring-job-applications) covers the direct application side and why fit matters more than volume.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I network for a job when I have no connections?

Start by mapping everyone you know in or adjacent to your target industry: former classmates, professors, past coworkers from related work, and family contacts. Warm paths convert far better than cold outreach. Then move to LinkedIn second-degree connections you share a group or employer history with, and industry communities such as Slack workspaces and local meetups. The goal at each step is a short informational conversation, not a job ask.

### What do I say in a networking message to someone I don't know?

Keep it to three sentences: who you are, why you reached out to them specifically, and a concrete, low-effort ask. A working template: "Hi \[Name\], I'm moving into \[field\] from \[background\] and came across your work at \[company\]. I'd appreciate 20 minutes to hear how you got into \[role\] and what you'd focus on if you were starting fresh. Happy to work around your schedule." The key is making it easy to say yes: a specific time limit and genuine curiosity about their experience.

### How do informational interviews work?

An informational interview is a short (20-minute) conversation where you ask someone about their career path and current work, not about open roles. You reach out with a short, specific ask, come prepared with real questions, listen well, and follow up with a thank-you the same day. Do not ask for a job in the first conversation. The goal is to learn and to become a face rather than a name, which opens the door to referrals and advice over time.

### Is networking still important when I can apply to jobs online?

Yes. Long-cited [Jobvite data](https://www.jobvite.com/blog/4-reasons-to-invest-in-employee-referrals/) puts referrals at roughly 7% of applicants but around 40% of hires. Online applications are easy to submit but hard to convert: the average corporate opening draws around 250 applicants, of which only 4 to 6 are interviewed (Glassdoor). Networking and direct applications work best in parallel: apply to well-matched roles through job boards and build relationships that can produce referrals at the companies you care most about.

### How long does it take for networking to lead to a job?

Networking is typically a 3 to 12 month investment, not a 3-day fix. Relationships take time to build, and a referral requires trust that does not form in one conversation. That is why direct applications to well-matched roles are the parallel track, not a fallback. Running both at once gives you steady application activity while your network builds over time.

## Apply to more relevant roles while you build your network

MORT is an AI job-matching platform for people who want to apply to more relevant jobs in less time. It scans thousands of company career pages, scores every job 0-100% for compatibility with your skills and experience, and generates a tailored resume for each application. When you apply to a role you genuinely fit, you also have something real to say in a networking message to someone at that company.

[Start Free](https://app.mortit.com/signup) [How Job Matching Works](https://mortit.com/features/job-matching)

## Related Resources

### [How to Ask for a Job Referral](https://mortit.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-job-referral)

Once you have the contact, here is how to ask for a referral without making it awkward

### [How to Reach Out to a Recruiter on LinkedIn](https://mortit.com/blog/how-to-reach-out-to-recruiter-on-linkedin)

The specific tactic for cold-messaging recruiters who might have relevant roles

### [Mass Apply vs Tailoring Every Application](https://mortit.com/blog/mass-apply-vs-tailoring-job-applications)

What the data says about volume versus quality in job applications

### [The Complete Job Search Guide](https://mortit.com/blog/job-search-guide)

The full workflow from target-setting to offer, including where networking fits

## Sources

-   Jobvite Recruiting Funnel / Index data on employee referrals (roughly 7% of applicants, around 40% of hires): [jobvite.com](https://www.jobvite.com/blog/4-reasons-to-invest-in-employee-referrals/)
-   Glassdoor, "50 HR & Recruiting Stats" (around 250 applicants per opening; 4 to 6 interviewed): [glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/50-hr-recruiting-stats-make-think/)