Former Google employee shares four networking habits for job seekers

Smith worked in tech for about eight years at Facebook and Google, and completed college internships at MSNBC and the White House under President Obama. He said cold applications can still work, but competition—particularly in tech—means qualified candidates may not reach the interview stage. Building contacts well before a job search, he said, is like investing in a 401(k): it takes time, but relationships can pay off later.

He recommends staying active on LinkedIn without feeling obliged to become a content creator. His own posts have helped people recognize him when he reaches out and have prompted recruiters from large companies to contact him. A visible personal brand can also give a conversation an easy starting point.

Smith says messages should sound genuine, especially as AI-generated posts and outreach become more common. Looking for shared interests can make networking less formal and show that a person has paid attention. He cited conversations about Kacey Musgraves’ new album and travel during a sabbatical as examples.

He also urges job seekers to be empathetic when people do not reply. Professionals have competing demands, he said, so a low response rate should not automatically be taken personally. Finally, he advises researching contacts before writing: people who post frequently may already receive many messages, while less active professionals may be overlooked. And a job at a desired company does not necessarily make someone the right contact. Smith recalled software engineers and data analysts asking him for advice while he held a nontechnical role at Google and Facebook.