How to Network for a Job in the UK: A Practical Guide
Estimates consistently suggest that a significant proportion of UK jobs are filled through personal connections, referrals, and the "hidden job market" — roles that are never formally advertised. Whether that figure is precisely accurate or not, the underlying point is well-established: people hire people they know, or people who are recommended by people they know.
Networking is not a manipulative strategy. It is the recognition that professional relationships matter in career development — and that investing in them proactively is better than waiting until you urgently need them.
Why Most People Avoid Networking
Networking has a poor reputation because it is often done badly. Cold approaches at events. Transparent attempts to extract value. The LinkedIn message that exists only to ask for something.
These approaches are unpleasant for everyone involved, and they rarely work. They are also not what genuine networking looks like.
Genuine networking is building professional relationships over time. The word "networking" is just shorthand for that — which is why reframing it as "building professional relationships" helps many people who resist the former term.
Who to Talk To
Start with your existing network — people you already know:
- Former colleagues and managers
- University or school contacts
- People you have met at industry events or conferences
- Clients, suppliers, and professional contacts from previous roles
- Connections on LinkedIn
These are warm contacts. Re-engaging with them is not asking for a favour — it is maintaining a relationship.
Beyond your existing network, identify people you would like to know:
- People in your target companies
- People in roles you are aiming for
- People who work in your target sector
How to Make Contact
For warm contacts: reconnect naturally. "I came across your name while looking at [company] — great to see you there. Would love to catch up." Or simply reach out with something relevant: "I thought of you when I read this article — hope you are well."
For new contacts: find a specific reason to reach out. A shared connection, a piece of their work you admired, a talk they gave, an article they wrote. Specificity signals genuine interest.
The Informational Interview
An informational interview is a conversation — usually thirty to sixty minutes — where you ask someone about their career path, their company, or their sector, without directly asking them for a job.
It is one of the most underused networking tools available. Most professionals are willing to share their experience with someone genuinely interested. You learn, they feel valued, and a real professional relationship begins.
Request it politely: "I am exploring [career direction] and would value your perspective — would you be open to a brief conversation? I would genuinely appreciate it."
Giving Before Asking
The most effective networkers give before they ask. Share an article someone would find useful. Introduce two people who should know each other. Offer your perspective or expertise when someone asks a question in a group or forum.
This is not strategy for its own sake — it is how genuine professional communities function. People who consistently contribute to their networks are the people others want to help when the time comes.
Following Up and Staying In Touch
A good connection conversation followed by silence is a missed opportunity. Follow up with a thank-you. Stay in touch periodically — share something relevant, congratulate on a milestone, comment on their content.
You do not need to contact everyone in your network constantly. Even annual contact maintains a relationship. The goal is to be a familiar, valued presence — not a stranger who appears only when they need something.
Use CVCircuit to build a CV that reflects the quality of your professional relationships and the opportunities they open — strong, specific, and ready whenever a connection leads to a real opportunity.