Table of Contents

• Don’t Lead With “Can You Get Me a Job?”

• Find Common Ground

• Add Value Before You Ask

• Keep It Light & Human

• Play the Long Game

• Meme of the week

LinkedIn can feel like a giant professional party — except everyone’s wearing name badges and you’re not sure who to talk to.

Here’s how to mingle without feeling (or sounding) desperate:

Don’t Lead With “Can You Get Me a Job?”

Think of LinkedIn like a coffee shop, not a job fair. Start by saying hi and showing genuine interest in the person’s work. Ask about their latest project or industry insights. Rather than asking straight away about opportunities, begin by showing genuine interest in the other person’s work. People respond best when they feel seen and valued.

Example opener: Hi Alex, I really enjoyed your post about AI in marketing — loved the point about storytelling. Curious, what trends do you see coming next?

Find Common Ground

Check their profile for mutual connections, shared university experiences, or career interests. People respond better when they feel a real connection. Have they recently made posts about a project, certificate or event they have attended, achieved or are celebrating.

Example: Hey Priya, I see you’re also a Warwick grad! I’d love to hear how you found the jump from uni to your first role.

Add Value Before You Ask

Share a relevant article, comment thoughtfully on their post, or give a compliment that’s specific — not generic. If you skip this piece, you will not come across as being authentic, people can smell desperation a mile off, its instinctive. So be yourself, relax and find out what you can share that others will engage with.

Keep It Light & Human

You’re not writing a cover letter. Keep your tone friendly, curious, positive and confident.

Try: Hi Jamie, saw you’re working on some really cool fintech projects — how’s it going? Always keen to connect with people making waves in this space

Play the Long Game

Networking isn’t one coffee chat — it’s a slow build. Stay in touch, engage with their posts, and let the relationship grow naturally.

Pro tip: Think friend first, opportunity second. That’s how you make real connections that stick.

Meme of the week