My Pre-College Networking Moves… LinkedIn
Connections are arguably one of the most essential aspects in climbing the business social ladder. But the real question is: are you building them with intention, or just collecting names on a list? Don’t get me wrong, scrolling past someone with 500+ connections on LinkedIn does sound impressive at first glance but numbers don’t necessarily equal influence. What is actually impressive is how to use LinkedIn to create opportunities, open conversations, and bridge into communities that you aren’t even a part of yet.
That’s the mindset I’ve been trying to adopt lately as I navigate how to use LinkedIn, not just to boost my so-called “social standing,” but to shape my outlook and network.
Recently, I read a pretty powerful idea in The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—and How to Make the Most of Them Now. The book mentions the importance of weak ties: acquaintances or second-degree connections who often end up being the key to new jobs, collaborations, or opportunities that you would never be able to reach through your immediate circle. It made me realize that the real value of LinkedIn isn’t just the people you already know, but the people you haven’t met yet.
Turning Weak Ties into Opportunities
When I first started reaching out to people on LinkedIn, I’ll admit, felt a bit wierd. Why would someone in a position that I am working towards bother responding to me, a student getting started with nothing to contribute? But time and time again, like the cold emails, I’ve been surprised by how many people are willing to share advice and talk about their experiences. Obviously they aren’t mentors or even lifelong friends but rather “weak ties.” And yet, these brief interactions have opened my eyes and shown me new opportunities I never would’ve found otherwise.
The truth is, weak ties expand your world. As I mentioned, your close friends know what you know, move in the circles you move in, and usually think in similar ways. But someone two or three steps ahead has completly different experiences, contacts, and insights. That’s where growth and learning happens.
How I’m Actually Using LinkedIn
Here’s what I’ve started doing differently:
Personalized messages: Instead of just hitting “connect,” I explain who I am, what I’m interested in, and why I’m reaching out.
Targeted outreach: I’ve focused on people who are where I want to be in a few years — transfer students at Haas, alumni from my college, or leadership in clubs. These aren’t random adds; they’re purposeful.
Asking for conversations, not favors: My goal isn’t to ask for a job. It’s to learn, what steps did they take, what challenges did they face, what advice would they give someone like me?
Connections aren’t just about climbing the ladder; they’re about expanding the ladder itself. LinkedIn, for me, has become less of a résumé showcase and more of a bridge to the kinds of people and communities I want to learn from. And if weak ties really are as powerful as The Defining Decade suggests, then every thoughtful message I send might just be the first step toward a door I didn’t even know was there.
