- In Europe, many jobs are filled through referrals and contacts before or soon after they are posted.
- Short, specific LinkedIn messages and 15 minute coffee chats work better than asking for a job.
- Meetups, career fairs and industry conferences let you meet hiring managers in person.
- Give before you ask: comment, share and help others in your network.
"Networking" sounds vague, and many people from India feel uncomfortable with it. In my experience it is simply a set of formats you can learn. Here are the 8 that work best for international job seekers in Europe, from online to offline.
1. Targeted LinkedIn messages
Write to 3 or 4 people per company: the hiring manager, someone in the team, the recruiter and someone with a shared background. Keep it to 3 or 4 lines, mention something specific, and ask one small question. My networking guide has examples, and the LinkedIn guide helps your profile convert those visits.
2. Coffee chats (informational calls)
A 15 minute video call to learn how someone got their job or what the team looks for. Ask for advice, never for a job. Many referrals start here.
3. Alumni networks
Search LinkedIn for people from your university or previous employer who now work in Europe. A shared background makes replies much more likely.
4. Meetups
Tech, data, product and marketing meetups happen every week in cities like Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam and Dublin. Go regularly, ask questions, and connect on LinkedIn afterwards.
5. Career fairs
Universities, cities and the public employment services run career fairs, some of them online. Prepare a short introduction and a one page summary of your profile.
6. Industry conferences and trade fairs
Europe has large trade fairs and conferences in almost every industry, and many companies send hiring managers. Check the speaker and exhibitor lists, and message people before the event.
7. Communities
Indian community groups, international professionals' groups, Slack and WhatsApp communities, and city groups for newcomers. People who moved recently are often the most helpful.
8. Referrals
A referral is the result of the other seven formats. Once someone knows your work and goals, ask: "Would you be comfortable referring me for this role?" Make it easy: send the job link and a short summary.
A simple weekly routine
- 10 new targeted LinkedIn messages.
- 2 coffee chats.
- 1 event, online or offline.
- 3 thoughtful comments on posts in your field.
Networking is one of the four parts of my 3-month program, where we build your list of contacts together.
TEMPLATES to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.