How To Land A Job Without Connections

Summary. To get a job without connections you should just apply anyway, tailor your resume to each specific job, and improve your interview skills. You don’t need connections to get a job, you just want to make yourself an attractive candidate. If you want to make new connections you should search within your professional network for new connections and go to networking events to initiate new connections.

While the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” does have some truth to it, it’s still more than possible to get a job even if you don’t have any connections at the company.

In this article, we’ll talk about how to do this as well as how to create more connections to help you in the future.

Key Takeaways

Taking the time to fine-tune your resume, cover letter, and interview skills will help make up for not having connections at the company.
Strong references will make you more attractive to employers even without connections.
Don’t be afraid to take the initiative and initiate connections with people you want to have a professional relationship with.

How to Land a Job Without Connections

In This Article

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How to Land a Job Without Connections
How to Make Connections
How to Get a Job Without Connections FAQ
Final Thoughts
References
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How to Land a Job Without Connections

Just Apply Anyway

If you’re not able to make any new connections, don’t let it hold you back from applying for a job. Even if you know all the right people, it’s not a sure guarantee that you’re going to get the job. A well-crafted resume with a solid list of qualifications can get you much further than just an address book full of connects.

The hiring process itself is a networking experience. The people you meet and the conversations you have may not directly translate into a job offer, but think of them as long-term investments.

As long as you maintain a positive attitude, stay in touch with the people you meet in a professional way, and make it known what you’re looking for, job opportunities will start trickling in.
Beef Up Your Resume

Since you don’t have anyone vouching for you inside the company, you need to make sure your qualifications are as attractive as possible.

Research what professional certifications or skills are in demand in your field or for the type of position you want, and take some online classes to fill in any gaps you may have.

Look over your resume and ask yourself if it paints as full a picture of your abilities as possible. If it doesn’t, add information, rearrange it, or have an expert look at it to help you polish it.
Fine-Tune Your Interview Skills

When you’re walking into an interview situation where no one has any reference for who you are beyond your application, you need to make sure you’re prepared to put your best foot forward.

One of the best ways to prepare for an interview is to look up a list of common interview questions and practice answering them by yourself or with a friend.

If you feel like you need some extra help, look into mock interviews where professionals conduct full, fake interviews with you and give you feedback. If that isn’t an option, even a public speaking or improv class may help you get more comfortable and confident with interviews.
Lean on Your References

Your list of professional references can carry a significant amount of weight, even if they don’t work within the company you’re applying to.

Just make sure you ask your references for permission to list them before you provide their contact information.
Stay Up to Date on Company News

Make sure to stay informed about the company’s current projects and events, and about anything happening within the industry.

This means that you’re going to have to do some homework. Read press releases, check out any articles written about the company, and see if any of the company’s managers show up in the news. If the company or any of their employees have any big achievements in the press, bring it up in your pitch.

If you can show a company that you’re well-informed on their current projects, it will show them that you’re passionate and motivated to work with them. If anything you find in your research can be applied to your own experience, make sure to bring it up in your cover letter or your email to a company representative. These details will make you stand out as a memorable candidate.

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How to Make Connections

Just because you don’t have connections now doesn’t mean you should be content to stay that way. Here are some ways you can grow your professional network and find connections you may not know you had:

Search Within Your Network for Possible Connections

If you’re applying to work at a company where you don’t have an immediate connection, do some digging within your network to see if there’s any other connections you’ve yet to discover.

First things first — check your LinkedIn for any possible connections you may not even realize you have. If that’s a no-go, spread the word to your existing network to see if you can uncover any possible second degree connections.

You could also contact your alumni association. They could refer you to any former professors or classmates who might be affiliated with the company. And just like that, you’ve got a connection to the company of your choice.
Put the Word Out That You’re Looking for a New Job

After you’ve done some digging around, it’s time to spread the word that you’re on the hunt for a new job. This is a great opportunity to put your networking skills to use. Call or email your college friends and announce your job search on your LinkedIn or Twitter profiles. Once people are aware that you’re looking for a new job, they could provide you with some awesome leads or referrals.

While you’re at it, go ahead and bring up your job hunt with your friends and family. Good ol’ Uncle Frank might have an “in” at a company that you were never aware of. You never know who could help you out in your job hunt, so it’s always a good idea to spread the word.
Initiate New Connections

If Uncle Frank the rest of your network couldn’t offer you any new connections, it’s time to take matters into your own hands.

It’s never too late to make new connections. Do some research, find someone who works for the company, and reach out to them on LinkedIn or with an email. Give them a sense of who you are with your name, a brief summary of your career goals and work experience, and ask them to give you some insight into their experience with the specific company.

Don’t just come out swinging asking for a recommendation, that would only make you look like a rookie. No one wants to look like a rookie.

Your goal is to make a genuine connection with the person you’re reaching out to, not to get them to do something for you. If they can see that you’re emailing them just to get something out of it, you’re never going to get the response you’re looking for.
Go to Networking Events

If you’re looking to seriously expand your list of professional connections, attending a career fair or similar networking event can be a goldmine. Be sure to go in with a quick and memorable elevator pitch that doesn’t sound too rehearsed. Your goal is to put your name and story out to as many professionals as you can.

However, you should be targeted your approach. Before the event, research what companies will be there and what positions are available for each. That way, you can prioritize your day and give your best, freshest performance to the people you want to impress the most.

Bring several copies of your resume and any other additional materials you think recruiters might be interested in. Come wtih questions to make yourself out to be invested and interested in each company and keep notes so you can reference them when sending follow-up emails.

And don’t just network with recruiters — other job-seekers at these events also have industry knowledge and might be able to point you in the right direction. Even if they can’t right away, there’s no doubt that you’ll walk out of a career fair with more connections than you arrived with.

How to Get a Job Without Connections FAQ

Why do you need a professional network?

You need a professional network because it can help you access job opportunities and it can help provide advice and support. Having a professional network means having more opportunities to learn about potential jobs. The bigger your professional network, the more open doors there will be in the future.

A professional network can also provide advice and support. This is important especially when you are starting out or having trouble in your career.
Is the only way to get a job is through connections?

No, having connections is not the only way to get a job, but is can be the most effective approach. It may take more time to get a job if you do not have connections. Having connections and a network will open more doors for opportunities than not having one.
How should you start making connections?

To start making connections you should go to networking events and try to search within your current network. Going to networking events will allow for you to meet new people to grow your network. Your network is a great place to build new connections. If you have a network already, utilize it to grow it and make new connections.

Final Thoughts

Even though connections can help with getting your foot in the door, they’re not everything. Not knowing anyone at the company isn’t a death sentence. If you’re perfect for the job, apply anyway. They’ll see that you’re a great candidate with relevant experience, and that’s all you need to get an interview.

Just make sure to prepare to answer the most common interview questions, have stories to back up your skills, and show them that you’re up to speed on their current events and you’re sure to land the job.

References

The Washington Post – How to Break into a New Industry with No Connections or Experience

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Author

Maddie Lloyd

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.

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