Want to turn cold outreach into warm referrals, land research opportunities, and connect with industry professionals—all while building lasting relationships? Here’s how you can create a powerful, sustainable networking feedback loop:
- Start with alumni: Reach out to alumni from your university on LinkedIn—not to ask for a referral, but for advice. Ask for recommendations on faculty to work with or internships to explore.
- Approach faculty with purpose: Use those alumni recommendations to connect with professors, aiming for research assistant roles or insights into industry opportunities.
- Leverage faculty connections: Professors often maintain strong networks with former students. A warm introduction from a faculty member can open doors to professionals in your field.
- Stay in touch: Follow up with the alumni you initially contacted, updating them on your progress and expressing gratitude.
- Close the loop: By this stage, you’ve built a network of alumni, faculty, and industry professionals. Now, you can confidently seek interview advice, mentorship, and referrals from warm connections.
Networking isn’t transactional—it’s a long-term strategy. Start with curiosity, add value where you can, and nurture the relationships you build.
I dive into more detail in this video: https://youtube.com/shorts/ePsC3q7KNcI
Senior data scientist and PhD economist specializing in experimentation and observational causal inference. Previously Uber, Airbnb, Stripe, the Federal Reserve, and the SEC. More about my background.
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