There's hidden treasure online. Here's how to find it.

5 networking strategies that will boost your job search.

Job seekers have more resources and opportunities than ever before. The sad part? Most people are passive online scrollers that miss out on the massive potential that comes from being active online. If you want to truly stand out in this crazy job market, you have to go beyond surface-level activity and invest in effective networking.

Back in early 2022, I had around 3,000 LinkedIn connections, but I wasn't very dedicated to engaging online or posting content (I pretty much shared job postings). I made a decision to go all in and work hard on building my personal brand. Fast forward to today, and I have 45,000+ followers, a solid reputation in the global infosec community, and more professional opportunities than I ever thought possible. It's all because I put in the effort every single day.

In today’s blog post we’ll dive into 5 strategies that will help you build genuine relationships with the right people which will ultimately boost your career opportunities. Let’s get started!

Join the online conversation

Imagine the internet is one big party. How many friends would you make if you just wandered around without talking? How many friends would you make if you sat on the couch and people watched? Probably none! Now on the flip side, how many friends would you make if you tried talking to people all night? Probably a lot!
Using LinkedIn as an example, most people are what I call “lurkers” on that platform. They log in, aimlessly scroll around, apply to a few jobs, and then start all over again the next day. If you’re looking to get noticed, meet people in your field, or get in front of hiring managers - you have to do more.

Here’s one simple way to get started (I’m using LinkedIn as an example but you could use Twitter as well).

Go to LinkedIn and type in a key word related to the job you want or related to your field of interest. For example, “penetration tester”.

Filter by “people”

Go to “All filters” and then “Talks about”

Select 4-5 hashtags related to pen testing (e.g., #ethicalhacking, #pentesting #hacking, etc.)

This will give you a list of Pen Testers that talk about these topics. Follow 10-20 of these people and start engaging with their content when they post. Instead of writing “good post” or “agree”, add your opinions, thoughts, and ideas. Doing this allows you to learn about a topic you like but also to organically meet people who share your interests or who work in the same field (not just the person that posted, but the other people in the comments section).

I’ve been doing this exercise religiously for over a year. It’s allowed me to connect with and get noticed by people I highly respect. Here are some examples:

I want to learn from and be associated with other career content creators. Two of these that I really respect are Austin Belcak and Reno Perry. They both have huge followings and are considered to be some of the biggest names on LinkedIn. How do I get them to notice me? By commenting every time they post.

In the cybersecurity space I’m also actively engaging with some big names like Heath Adams, Gerry Auger, and Jay Jay Davey. I want to be associated with these people, to learn from them, and hopefully collaborate on projects or business in the future. I haven’t quite gotten a comment back from Heath but I’ll get there!

Join LinkedIn groups

LinkedIn groups are a great way to network with people who share the same interests as you or who work in the same field. There are two ways to find groups.

1. Key word search. Simply type in whatever you’re interested in and filter by “groups”

2. Next, if you want to get involved with people at your target companies, go to employee profiles and scroll down to “Interests” to see which groups they’ve joined. The coolest part about this strategy is it allows you to message anyone (even 3rd connections) that are a part of that group.

Use Discord

I love joining Discord Servers because they provide significantly more technical collaboration and conversation than social media platforms. Most of these have chats dedicated to resume writing, careers, and job opportunities too. You can learn about a lot of different subjects, get feedback on what you’re working on, network, meet new people, and keep track of potential job opportunities all on one platform. It’s awesome!

A few of my favorites are SimplyCyber, TCM, and Hacking & Coding.

Targeted outreach

Who should you network with? If you’re in a serious job search, I would focus on 3 people:

1. Recruiters that hire for your role

2. Peers (those that have the job you want or work in a similar field)

3. Hiring Managers

You won’t magically get an opportunity by just connecting with someone and sending them a message. However, if you message them THE RIGHT WAY, it can lead to conversations and future opportunity. Let’s take me as an example. After applying to my current role at Dragos, I decided to reach out to the hiring manager to get my name out there. In this case, it worked!

If you need help with how to reach out to someone, this former blog post can help.

In-person Events

This one seems obvious but most people don’t pay attention to local opportunities to meet people (BSides, infosec meetups, and conferences). I always try to attend 1-2 events per year that happen in my hometown (or nearby). Face-to-face interaction is the BEST way to build relationships and to meet people. You will leave a lasting impression with those you meet at these events. Trust me!

Closing

Just remember one thing from today’s blog post. All of this takes TIME. You won’t build a solid network or community overnight. Careers are decades long. Invest time in the long game and you will win. Good luck!