I sent 200 DMs to companies to land a job
A young professional shares how sending over 200 cold LinkedIn messages helped her secure a job, backed by expert tips.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- 44% of Gen Z see lack of a network as a major job barrier
- Reaching out directly via DMs can open career doors
- Building relationships beforehand prevents a transactional feel
Building a professional network does not come naturally to everyone, especially when it involves approaching strangers. According to research from LinkedIn, just under half, or 44%, of Gen Z cite not having the right network as the biggest barrier to landing an entry-level role.
Nicole Leverich, chief communications officer at LinkedIn who moved to San Francisco without knowing anyone in communications, shares that the key to reaching out online is showing you have done your homework. She advises trying to build relationships before you actually need something from them.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Instead of direct messaging right away, Leverich suggests starting small by reacting to a post or dropping a comment. For in-person networking, she advises attending an event for just 15 minutes or half an hour and building up from there to overcome initial anxiety.
Knowing the theory is one thing, but execution takes courage. One employee shared that she sent over 200 cold DMs on LinkedIn to people at companies where she wanted to work while still a student, admitting it felt very awkward but was necessary.
"I sent over 200 cold DMs on LinkedIn and reached out to people in the companies I wanted to work at while I was studying."
Employee who secured a job via DMs
Her colleague Vicky Peterlin, 24, agrees, stating that networking is less about being skilled and more about not being afraid to reach out. With organizations dealing with an enormous number of applications, meeting employers and showing authenticity is crucial.
Cold outreach has become an increasingly vital strategy in modern job hunting. As traditional application portals are often flooded with automated applicant tracking systems, reaching out directly to professionals can bypass bottlenecks and showcase genuine initiative.
Source: BBC Business
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