How to Build Professional Networks to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Job Market

• Effective networking requires moving beyond transactional requests for jobs toward building long-term professional relationships through informational interviews and industry-specific discourse.
• Candidates who use existing alumni networks or specific professional contacts can stand out among many hundreds of applicants.

AI Screening Tools Create a Connection Gap for Candidates

Modern job searching has shifted toward high-volume digital workflows, but this efficiency often creates a bottleneck for candidates. According to AP reporting, employers now utilize AI-driven screening tools to process large numbers of applicants, leading to widespread use of canned rejection emails. This environment renders traditional cold-application methods less effective.

“Networking is important whether you’re searching for a job or not,” said Catherine Fisher, vice president of communications and a career expert at LinkedIn, who spoke to AP. “It's not just a nice-to-have. It does set you apart and give you an edge,” Catherine Fisher, vice president of communications and a career expert at LinkedIn, told AP.

Evolving Virtual Relationship Building

The transition to remote work habits, including the persistent use of Zoom and Slack, has altered how professionals interact. For early-career workers, these shifts have limited the organic, in-person development of professional circles. Rekius McGee, a 24-year-old marketing and communications candidate, told AP that he felt “robbed” of basic networking opportunities due to pandemic-era restrictions.

McGee has adapted his approach by utilizing platforms such as LinkedIn and Handshake to reach out to recruiters and alumni. He actively monitors career boards and attempts to establish contact before submitting applications. “I applied for this position. Could you review it and see if I’m a qualifiable candidate and also consider me for the position?” McGee said, describing his method of maintaining contact with previous interviewers.

How to Avoid Transactional Networking Pitfalls

Career experts warn against approaching networking as a purely transactional exercise. Matt Berndt, head career strategist at Indeed, told AP that many job seekers err by reaching out only when they require immediate assistance.

Instead, Berndt recommends seeking specific career advice or industry insights to foster genuine professional relationships.

“If you’re asking them questions that allow them to draw upon their own knowledge and experience and give you meaningful content and responses, you’re getting a chance to get to know them, and you’re giving them a chance to get to know you,” Berndt said.

This approach allows candidates to demonstrate value before requesting help with job leads.

Technical Communication Standards for Outreach

When initiating contact, brevity is essential to ensure the recipient can process the request efficiently. Nisha Chittal, chief of staff at Vox, told AP that she receives an influx of messages and finds it difficult to parse long, unstructured emails.

“Tight and succinct, a brief intro and what you’re asking for, and then it’s really easy for the person on the receiving end to say, ‘Yes, I can make time for a call with this person or a coffee,'” Chittal said. She advises candidates to be specific rather than asking vague questions about potential openings.

Persistence Through Automated Rejection Cycles

Even with a strong network, automated systems can still trigger rejections before a contact has the opportunity to intervene. Olivia Mast, a 25-year-old job seeker, shared with AP that she applied for thousands of digital marketing jobs over two years. Despite her efforts, she experienced crushing rejections. Mast secured a short-term role at a nonprofit after reconnecting with a college alumnus she had initially reached out to years prior.

Securing Professional Visibility

The current job market requires a hybrid approach that combines digital platform usage with targeted, human-centric networking. “It is a tough environment to be job searching right now, and anything you can do to make a personal connection to stand out when there are many hundreds of applicants for a job helps,” Mast told AP.