Career Launch
College introduced you to people. Nothing does that now.
Job seekers are told to network and shown nothing about how, so it becomes connection counts and messages asking strangers for jobs. This session replaces that with something workable — and it matters more off-campus, because referrals convert better than any portal.
The highest-converting channel is the one freshers use worst.
A referral asks somebody to attach their professional reputation to a person they know nothing about. Approached cold with a request, almost nobody says yes — and the job seeker concludes that networking does not work for people like them.
It works in the other order: learn first, be known for something, and let the opportunity follow. Off-campus that sequence is not optional, because there is no placement cell making introductions on your behalf.
How it actually works
31 topics across 7 areas. Seven things nobody explains.
Introduce Yourself ClearlyMake it easy for somebody to place you.4
“I'm Ananya, I graduated in Computer Science last year and I'm preparing for backend roles — I work with Java and SQL and recently built an inventory application.” Specific, short, easy to continue.
- Who you are
- What you are aiming at
- What you have actually done
- What you are working on now
Ask a Question Worth AnsweringNot “can you get me a job?”5
- How did you get into this?
- What does the work actually involve?
- What should somebody entering it learn first?
- What do freshers misunderstand?
- What would you do in my position?
Who Is Already Within ReachStart closer than you think.6
- Seniors from your college
- Former internship colleagues
- Friends, and their friends
- People from any event you attended
- Faculty with industry contacts
- Anybody who has seen your work
A senior two years ahead understands fresher hiring better than a senior executive does.
The Message That Gets a ReplyContext, then one clear question.4
“I graduated last year and I'm moving towards business analysis. I saw you made a similar move from engineering — what would you tell somebody trying to do it now?” Easy to answer in three lines.
- Who you are, in one line
- Why them specifically
- One question
- Nothing else
Follow Up, and Act FirstThe part almost everybody skips.4
Thank them specifically. Then act on the advice, and come back when you have — “you suggested a stronger project, I finished one, it helped.” That is when a contact becomes a relationship.
- Thank them for something specific
- Do the thing they suggested
- Report back when it is done
- Stay in touch without needing anything
What a Referral Actually IsA recommendation, with their name on it.3
It makes an application visible. It does not guarantee a shortlist, an interview or an offer, and you still have to meet the requirements.
- They share your profile internally
- Or submit it through a referral system
- Or introduce you to the hiring team
When You Are Ready to AskAnd how to ask well.5
“I saw the Junior Analyst role at your company. I've been preparing for analyst roles with SQL and Excel and the requirements look relevant — if you think my profile fits, would you be comfortable referring me?” That gives them enough to decide.
- A specific open role
- You meet most requirements
- Your resume is ready
- You could handle the interview
- Some relationship exists
Often the better request is not a referral: “what gap would you close before I apply?”
Common mistakes
- Connecting with no context
- Asking for a job in the first message
- The same message to everybody
- Questions too broad to answer
- Never following up
- Contacting people only when you need something
- Treating a connection count as a network
For people who find this uncomfortable
- One-to-one conversations rather than rooms
- Written messages rather than events
- Small meetups and technical communities
- Being useful before needing something
- The goal is a few real relationships, not visibility
How the session runs
Professionals describe how relationships actually shaped their own careers, and recruiters explain when they refer somebody and what makes them decline. Participants write real connection requests and first messages, get them reviewed, then have the conversations for real with the professionals in the room.
What your students leave with
- A professional introduction they can deliver without rehearsing
- Questions worth asking somebody in a role they want
- Messages that get replies rather than silence
- The habit of acting on advice and reporting back
- An accurate understanding of how referrals work
- The judgement to know when they are ready to ask for one
Scheduled sessions
Nothing scheduled yet
Sessions are arranged with a college once a date is agreed. Ask us and we will find the right person for it.
A student rather than a college? See what is coming up, or ask your placement team to host this.
Build the relationships before you need them.
Tell us who your students are and what stage they are at. Sessions are free for participants.