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How to make networking not suck 😩

What to do long before jobs are posted—and why it matters more than you think

Author

Florian Bölter
May 21, 2025

In partnership with

Hey and greetings from Greece where I’m on vacation currently! 👋🇬🇷

Due to energy saving mode during my vacation there aren’t plenty of jobs today (although definitely some you should check out!). Don’t worry, I’ll be back in full force next week!

In this issue:

  • Dreading Networking?: I’ll tell you how to make it much less awkward and how it landed me referrals eventually.

  • Mihir’s Portfolio: Mihir is showing what businesses love: impact.

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How to make networking not suck 😩

Networking is broken for most people. It feels transactional, awkward, and often goes nowhere.

But there’s a better way—one that’s human, sustainable, and quietly powerful. One that worked for me when I was just starting out, and that I still rely on today.

When I was a junior, I began reaching out to designers at companies I admired—not to ask for a job, but just to understand what design looked like inside their teams. It didn’t feel like much at the time. But months later, when roles opened up at those companies, those conversations came back to me. People remembered. And some even referred me—without me asking.

By the time I was looking for more senior roles, that same approach opened more doors than my actual applications. Not overnight, but over time. That’s the power of real relationships in a world of cold outreach.

Here’s the wildest part: when I was working at my first company and we were hiring more designers, my inbox was full of messages asking for referrals—some even felt entitled. But one person stood out. He didn’t ask for a job. He just asked thoughtful questions about the team, the work, and even voiced some concerns he had—curious, grounded, respectful. I enjoyed the conversation, checked out his profile, liked what I saw, and referred him without him ever asking.

He got the job. And he’s still one of my best friends today.

That’s what this article is about. Building genuine connections before you need anything—and becoming the kind of person people remember.

Stay visible to the people you’d like to work with

This is your guiding principle. If no one knows you, no one can help you. If they do know you—and they think well of you—opportunities start to appear.

And visibility isn’t just about posting on LinkedIn (though we’ll get to that). It’s about being top of mind in a non-obnoxious way. Sharing thoughtful takes. Asking good questions. Reacting to things you genuinely care about.

That’s the foundation of everything that follows.

Be active in design communities

Most of the best conversations don’t happen in the comments of a LinkedIn post—they happen in Slack groups, Discord servers, workshops, events, and casual group chats. If you’re not in any design communities yet, start by joining just one or two. A couple of good places to start are:

Once you’re in, be helpful. Share useful links. Ask questions when you’re stuck. Offer thoughts on what others are sharing.

You don’t need to be loud. You just need to show up consistently.

The people you interact with here might be your future coworkers. They might even become friends. Either way, the more you participate, the more you’ll stand out without trying too hard.

Reach out to designers in companies you see a potential fit with

This one’s big—and underused.

Pick 2–3 companies you’d love to work at. Be realistic here and make sure you look at companies that are actually a good fit for you. Then find one or two designers who work there. Don’t ask them for a job. Don’t ask for a referral. Just message them to say:

  • You’re curious about what design is like at their company

  • You’d love to hear more about their experience, their team, or even their interview journey if they’re open to sharing

Keep it brief. Make it personal. And make it clear you’re not expecting anything in return.

If the conversation goes well, don’t let it be the last. Follow up a few weeks later if you have something meaningful to share—maybe a relevant article, an update on your portfolio, or a quick thank-you for a piece of advice they gave you.

This does two things:

  1. It deepens the connection in a natural, non-pushy way.

  2. It plants the seed for a future opportunity.

When a role opens at their company, and you apply, they’ll remember you. If you reach out again with a thoughtful question or two about the role, they’ll likely answer—and might even offer a referral without you asking.

Here’s the magic phrase to keep in mind:

Be there when others are not.

Most people reach out only when a job is already open. That’s when inboxes get flooded—and even the best messages get lost. If you reached out before, when no one else did, they’ll remember you.

Final thoughts

Networking isn’t about chasing jobs—it’s about planting seeds.

Start now. Reach out to a couple of people this week. Drop into that Slack group. Reply to a LinkedIn post with something more meaningful than “Love this!”

And most of all, play the long game. It pays off.

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👀 Portfolio Showcase

Mihir’s portfolio is a strong case for why business thinking belongs in design — even early in your career.

Based in Vancouver, Mihir’s work reflects a clear understanding of not just UX principles, but also product goals, business constraints, and how to align design decisions with measurable impact. That alone sets his portfolio apart — but there’s more to like here, especially in how he structures and explains his work.

Let’s take a look at where Mihir really shines — and what could make this already solid portfolio even stronger.

That’s it for this week—thanks so much for the support! ♥️

If you’d like to support my efforts on Open Doors further you can buy me a coffee. If you ever got any value from my emails consider it so I can keep this newsletter free and available to everyone out there.

Do you want your own portfolio reviewed in-depth with a 30-minute advice-packed video review? Or do you require mentoring to figure out a proper strategy for your job search?

I got you!

Keep kicking doors open and see you next week!
- Florian