Let’s be honest. In today’s job market, people don’t land jobs by blindly applying online.
They get hired through networking. In fact, research shows that 80% of jobs today are filled through networking, not job boards.

And now, it’s shifting even more. Silent hiring, when companies fill roles internally or through referrals without ever posting them, is becoming the norm. A LinkedIn survey found that nearly 70% of HR professionals say their company already does this or plans to.

It’s a red flag for me when I meet with college students or recent graduates and hear something like, “I’ve networked with over 40 people, and nothing has come from it.” That means they’re either speaking to the wrong people or not making the conversation stick.

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PARTICIPANTS AND APPROACH

To understand what’s happening, I spoke with 50 hiring managers, team leads, and professionals across 14 reputable companies. I wanted to know what those networking conversations looked like from the professional’s perspective and not just the young professional’s.

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HERE’S HOW THE PROFESSIONALS WERE CONNECTED TO THE PEOPLE THEY SPOKE WITH

45% met with a relative of a personal connection.

30% took the meeting as a favor, without knowing the young professional personally.

25% were meeting with graduating seniors from their alma mater.

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Here’s the good news. Across the board, the professionals we spoke to described these college students and recent graduates as polite, friendly, and eager. But many weren’t prepared, ready to lead the conversation or make a clear ask. While the intentions were strong, the impact often fell short.

88% of the young professionals had typos or grammatical errors in their outreach communications.

80% of the professionals felt the young professional was unprepared for the conversation.

95% of professionals felt they had to carry the conversation during the meeting.

79% of the young professionals struggled answering the question “tell me about yourself”.

93% of the young professionals did not articulate a clear ask or next steps - most were timid.

68% of the young professionals sent a generic thank-you note that didn’t reinforce key points from the conversation.

71% of professionals felt too senior to relate to or advise the young professional.

74% of the professionals said they did not leave the conversation with a good sense of the young professional’s skills.

77% of the professionals said the young professionals were overly casual and lacked a professional presence.

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FIVE THINGS TO AVOID WHEN NETWORKING

1. Treat it like a professional interaction.
Even if you know the person personally, remember this is a professional meeting. Show respect by preparing and presenting yourself accordingly.

2. Don’t expect the professional to lead the conversation.
It’s your responsibility to guide the meeting. Come prepared with a plan and take initiative.

3. Avoid vague or surface-level questions.
Ask specific, thoughtful questions that show you’ve researched the company and are genuinely curious about the person’s role and experience.

4. Don’t forget to make a clear ask.
Whether you’re hoping for an introduction to someone else at the company or a connection to HR, be direct about your next step.

5. Follow up and stay in touch.
A generic thank-you note isn’t enough. Send a thoughtful message, connect on LinkedIn, and find ways to stay on their radar.

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YoPro is here to help.