June 22, 2024

Networking is a crucial skill for anyone looking to build a successful career. Whether you're seeking advice, mentorship, or job opportunities, reaching out to full-time Software Engineers can open doors and help you learn. 

However, the thought of networking can be daunting, especially for students new to the industry or students who consider themselves awkward in networking situations. In this article, we’ve put together tips on how to structure your opening message to someone you’d like to meet with. Feel free to use the example messages as a template for your own! 

If you’re interested in networking and want more information, join our waitlist to be notified when the Internship Playbook is released! The full Playbook will include information about how to get over the awkwardness of networking, how to find people to network with, how to structure a call, and what to do after you’ve met with someone.

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Email:

Most of your networking messages will be emails. Keep in mind that while you may be reaching out to someone who isn’t that much older than you are, email is still a formal mode of communication. Keep things light, but avoid overly-casual language, which may suggest to the person that you’re not serious about your career.

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^{Subject line: Interest in XYZ Company Software Engineering Internship}

^{Hi Jack!}

^{My name is Sarah and I'm a junior at UConn interested in Software Engineering. I am planning to apply for an internship at XYZ Company, and I was wondering if you'd have a few minutes to talk about your experience at the company. I see you’ve been working there for 8 years, and I’d love to know what has made you enjoy working for XYZ Company so much! I also noticed that you were an RA when you were in college, which I’m doing too! It would be great to connect about that as well. Thanks a lot and I look forward to hearing from you!}

^{Take care,}

^{Sarah Smith}

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LinkedIn Connection Request:

Often, the only way to message someone on LinkedIn is to connect with them and include a Connection Message. You get 4 Connection Messages per month, and each one has to be fewer than 200 characters.

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^{Hi Jack! My name is Sarah and I'm a junior at UConn interested in Software. I am planning to apply for an internship at Microsoft, and I was wondering if you'd have a few minutes to talk about your experience at the company. Thanks!}

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Full LinkedIn Message:

Unless you have LinkedIn Premium, you likely won’t be able to send many (if any) full-length messages. But, if you’re able to, you want to take advantage of the extra space by explaining more about your background, why you’re interested in connecting with this person, and something that you have in common with them (if anything). You don’t want to pester them with paragraph upon paragraphs, so still try to be concise.

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^{Hi Jack! My name is Sarah and I'm a junior at UConn interested in Software Engineering. I am planning to apply for an internship at Microsoft, and I was wondering if you'd have a few minutes to talk about your experience at the company. I see you’ve been working there for 8 years, and I’d love to know what has made you enjoy working for Microsoft so much! I also noticed that you were an RA when you were in college, which I’m doing too! It would be great to connect about that as well. Thanks a lot and I look forward to hearing from you!}

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Through an Alumni Network:

If you’re able to reach out to someone through an alumni network, take advantage of it! Mention your shared connection in the message, and mention any extracurriculars/programs that you know they participated in.

^{Hi Jack! My name is Sarah and I'm a junior at UConn interested in Software Engineering. I am planning to apply for an internship at Microsoft, and I was wondering if you'd have a few minutes to talk about your experience at the company. I see you’ve been working there for 8 years, and I’d love to know what has made you enjoy working for Microsoft so much! I also saw on your profile that you double majored in Computer Science and Economics, and I’m considering that path too. It would be great to get your thoughts on how to balance both interests, and I bet you have some great stories from Professor Nelson’s seminars (I haven’t been lucky enough to take one yet)! On another note, I noticed that you were an RA for Carlson House when you were at UConn. I am the current RA, and enjoying it greatly! It would be awesome to connect about that as well. Thanks a lot and I look forward to hearing from you!}

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Personal Connection:

Personal connections can be the toughest and most awkward for networking, because you might know the person a little bit, but not super well. Also, some people feel as though they’re getting an unfair advantage for knowing a certain person. That’s not true at all! These personal connections are simply how the world works; if you don’t take advantage of them, someone else will. The message you send to a personal connection will vary widely, depending upon your relationship with the person. 

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If you only know them through a relative or friend, you can try something like this:

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^{Hi Jack, I hope you’re doing well! My uncle suggested that I reach out to you because I told him that I’m planning to apply for an internship at Microsoft. I was wondering if you'd have a few minutes to talk about your experience at the company. I see you’ve been working there for 8 years, and I’d love to know what has made you enjoy working for Microsoft so much! Just for a little background about me, I’m currently a junior at UConn and I’m very interested in Software Engineering. Thanks a lot and I look forward to hearing from you!}

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If you know them a little better (family friend, relative): 

^{Hey Mike, I hope you’ve been doing well since I saw you last spring! I’m looking for a Software Engineering Internship for next summer, and I’m really excited to apply to Apple’s program. I was wondering if you’d have a few minutes to talk about your experience at Apple. If you could connect me to any recruiters or hiring managers you know, that would be awesome too. Let me know if that’s possible, and I’m looking forward to catching up!}

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Conclusion

Networking is key to building a successful career, especially for aspiring software engineers. Reaching out to professionals can provide invaluable insights, mentorship, and job opportunities. Though it may seem intimidating, especially for those new to the industry or uncomfortable in networking situations, a structured approach can help.

Start by crafting thoughtful, respectful messages, whether through email, LinkedIn, alumni networks, or personal connections. Show genuine interest in the person's experiences and a desire to learn.

Networking may push you out of your comfort zone, but with practice, it can become a powerful career development tool. Begin today and start building a network that supports your professional growth.

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