How to Network Online: 5 Practical Strategies for Job Seekers

What do you think about networking? As a job seeker, you've probably heard this a lot - network, network, network.

But how?

Especially if you don't have many connections, or never really know what to say when reaching out to strangers.

Networking… but what am I actually supposed to say?

If networking hasn't been giving you the results you want, I've got some good news.

In this article, you'll learn 5 practical networking strategies that can help you connect with right people and open doors to opportunities that are never publicly advertised.

These insights come from my own experience of finding a job abroad, conversations with business owners, and the challenges I regularly see job seekers struggle with.

Ready? Let's go.

Start With their Name

I once heard that every person's favourite word is their own name.

Since starting my business, I've received plenty of cold emails from marketing agencies offering to "help me get more clients."

99% of them start with: “Hi.”

They don’t even bother checking my website to see who they're addressing the message (which in my case is very easy to find). So why should I bother giving them my attention?

Often, all it takes is checking the “About” section

A few years ago, I applied for a Reservations Manager role at a small family company in Spain. Their website's "About" section didn’t reveal any names, and searching on social media didn't help either.

But I didn’t stop there.

I went through their Google reviews and noticed customers mentioning the same two names again and again. So I made my conclusion, addressed my email to them, and sent it.

I got the job 🎉.

Of course, that wasn't the only reason - but that small effort made my application stand out and created a strong first impression. Just remember - nobody likes to see their name misspelled as the first thing when opening an email. So always double check before hitting "send."

Don’t Make Them Guess What You Want

Back when I was hiring my team in Finland, I sometimes received gems like this:

"Hello! Attached is my CV. If you have anything that could fit for me, don't hesitate to contact me."

⚠️ Remember: A recruiter or anyone working at a company you'd like to join is not a Career Counselor.

Nobody has time to read your CV and figure out what job might suit you best. Maybe a very good friend would do that, but in most cases messages like this get ignored. They show you haven't done your homework, feel like bulk messages, and can come across as a bit arrogant.

The same often happens when people reach out on LinkedIn asking for guidance or advice. And yes, job seekers are absolutely encouraged to do this — but how you do it makes all the difference.

Before contacting someone, pause and think:

• Why am I contacting this person specifically?

• What kind of advice or guidance am I actually looking for?

🚨 If your message is vague, overly apologetic, or too long - nobody will pay attention. Be clear, specific, and get to the point quickly.

Do Your Homework Before Reaching Out

If you think that personalizing your message or researching a company before sending a cold email or CV is a waste of time - think again. That’s exactly where the opportunity to stand out appears.

Real homework takes time. Writing one good email or cover letter might take hours, sometimes even days. And that’s usually the moment when many people pause and say: "Who has time for that when I'm applying to 100 jobs".

However, that's exactly the point - with this approach, you probably won't need to apply to 100 jobs.

What that homework looks like depends on where you want to work and whose attention you want to catch.

For example, if you're interested in fast growing startups, listen to interviews with the founders, read articles about the company, and follow their announcements. News about new investments or expansion plans often signals that they’ll soon need more people. A good place to follow this kind of news is EU‑Startups.

Speak the Employer's Language

Sometimes a business owner doesn’t even realize they need someone like you. But when you connect your skills to their reality, it becomes much easier for them to see your value.

This is one of the biggest errors I see. And not only in networking, but also in cover letters and job interviews.

Many job seekers list their skills, years of experience, and achievements… and then simply throw them into a message, hoping the other person will be impressed.

But the answer never comes.

Why?

Because they miss the most important part: showing why any of it matters.

👉 Let’s take a simple example.

Imagine I want to work as a receptionist in a hotel and I mention that I speak English, Spanish, and Estonian. I could leave it at that. Or I could connect my skills to the value they create for the employer.

For example: “I’ve read your customer reviews on Booking.com and noticed that many of your guests speak the same languages I speak fluently. This allows me to communicate with them in their mother tongue, understand their needs faster, and contribute to a better guest experience — something that can reflect positively in your online reviews and help attract even more clients.”

The more you can show direct experience in their sector, niche, type of clients, or the markets they want to expand into, the more trust and interest you build.

Send Networking Messages at the Right Time

Last but not least, even a carefully drafted email can fail if it arrives at the wrong moment. When I became interested in email marketing, I discovered there's a whole science behind getting someone to even open an email. And timing plays a big role in that.

Based on the response rates I see, I recommend sending your networking messages between Tuesday and Thursday.

Why?

If you send your email on Friday, it's unlikely to get much attention. People already have the weekend on their mind, and your message can easily feel like "too much." By Monday, it's often buried under dozens of other emails that arrived over the weekend and likely forgotten - which means you’ll probably need to follow up more than usual.

Conclusion

🚀 Now, take some of these strategies and put them into action for your next email.

I always say to job seekers that you don't need to send hundreds of messages. And in 2026 when the majority of messages are generated with AI, a message that feels human and I'll repeat it again - shows you have done your homework, will stand out.

Good luck, you've got this!