Online Networking in 2026: Strategies That Get You Hired

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.

Maybe you've already tried but got your confidence shaken ⚡️ when your LinkedIn connection requests went unnoticed. Or when you gave a try to a networking event and ended up feeling invisible.

If networking hasn't been giving you the results you want, I've got some good news for you! Here are 5 proven networking strategies that help you get noticed by the people you want to connect with and open doors to the hidden job market.

These tips come from:

• my own experience of finding a job abroad

• conversations with business owners

• and the challenges I see job seekers struggle with

So, let's start!

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1. It Starts With Their Name

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

Since I started my business, I've been receiving plenty of cold emails from different marketing agencies who want to "help me get more clients."

99% of them start with: “Hi.”

They don’t even bother to check my website and find out who they're addressing the message (which in my case is very easy to find).

So why should I bother giving them my attention? 🤷‍♀️

The Power of Personalizing Messages

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 give me results either.

But I didn’t stop there.

I went through their Google reviews and noticed that customers kept 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.

Obviously not only because of that..but it definitely caught their attention from the very first second, as later they told me they were genuinely surprised that I knew their names.

💡 That small effort made my application stand out immediately and created a positive 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."

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2. Don’t Make Them Guess What You Want

Back when I was hiring my team, 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."

⛔️ 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 try to figure out what job might be the best fit for you. Maybe a very good friend would do that, but in general messages like this get ignored. They show you haven't done your homework, feel like a bulk message and honestly...come across as a bit arrogant.

LinkedIn Outreach Tips

Another common example is reaching out on LinkedIn and asking for guidance or advice. And yes, job seekers are absolutely encouraged to do this — but how you do it makes all the difference.

Whenever you contact someone, pause and think:

1. Why am I contacting this person specifically?

2. 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 specific and get to the point quickly.

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3. Speak the Employer's Language

Sometimes a business owner doesn't even know that they need someone like you. But when you connect your skills to their reality, you make it easy for them to get interested.

This is one of the most missed opportunities I see 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 kinda "throw them" into a message, hoping the other person will be impressed and give them a job.

But the answer doesn't come.

Why?

Because they miss the most important part.

Showing What You Bring to the Table and WHY It Matters

👉 Let’s take a simple example.

Imagine I want to work as a receptionist in a hotel and I say that I speak English, Spanish, and Estonian.

I could leave it like that… or I could do a bit of homework and in my cover letter / cold email create a connection between my skills and the value they can create for an employer.

For example:

I've read your customer reviews on Booking.com and noticed that most of your guests speak the same languages I speak fluently. This means I can serve them in their mother tongue, understand their needs faster, and contribute to a better guest experience which can reflect positively in your online reviews and attract even more clients.

💡 Before listing all the great things about yourself, always ask first: why and how does it matter for the one who reads it?

The more you can show direct experience in their sector, niche, type of clients, or the markets they are present or want to expand - the more you create trust and stand out. That way you’re not just telling them who you are — you’re showing how you can help.

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4. Do Your Homework Before Reaching Out

   
   

As a job seeker, remember this: most people don't go any further than the Job Ad.

So, if you're thinking that personalizing your message or doing homework before cold pitching or drafting your cover letter is something that everybody does - you're wrong and here actually lies an opportunity to stand out.

Real homework means that drafting one good email or cover letter might take hours or even days — and that’s were the most will pause and say: "Who has time for that when I'm applying for 100 jobs".

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

Homework That Gets You a Job Interview

So how do you actually do the homework?

It depends on where you want to work and whose attention you want to catch. Here are two examples.

• If you want to work for a fast growing startup, listen to the founders’ interviews and podcasts, and read articles about them. They often reveal things like new investment rounds or expansion plans — which usually means they’ll need more people soon. A great place to follow this kind of news is EU‑Startups.

  
  

• In one of my interviews, I spoke with the owner of an arcade bar in Seville, Spain who received 3,000 applications for a single waiter position. She said that if someone besides preparing their CV and Cover Letter would present in person and said, “I already know your menu and the events you organise,” it immediately increased her interest.

💡 That’s the power of doing your homework and creating opportunities for yourself.

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5. Send Your Networking Messages on the Right Time

Last but not least, you can easily mess up the results of your carefully drafted email by thinking that it will be the most important thing in someone's inbox on Monday morning...

When I got interested in email marketing back in 2019 I realized there's a whole science behind getting someone to even open an email. And to increase that happening, it matters a lot when you send it.

Based on the response rates I see from the job seekers I work with, I recommend sending your networking messages between Tuesday and Thursday.

Why?

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

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Conclusion

Online networking isn’t about being loud, salesy, or pretending to be someone you’re not. It’s about being clear, doing a bit more homework than most people, and showing genuine interest in the person on the other side of the screen.

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.

Now it's your turn to give it a try. And If you need support along the way, I'm just a message away.