How to Network Without a Network

Intro note: At Mechanical Rock, we know that behind every piece of great technology we’ve built, are great people. Occasionally we publish pieces from our team that go beyond the technical because getting into this industry, particularly in Perth, can be difficult, and we want to help.

Networking is hard, sigh. But only to begin with!

One year into my tech career, I was showing up to events where I hardly knew anyone in the room, yet everyone else seemed so established in their fields and already knew each other. I had no experience, no contacts and no idea how to change that. Nobody tells you that holding your own, in a room full of strangers is actually just a skill you can learn. This is the article I needed back then in those early days of building my career in tech.

But before you read on, get this video started.

Building a network? Urgh, who cares?

In a world where we are all chronically online, the idea of walking up to a stranger and introducing yourself can feel genuinely uncomfortable. But hear me out.

Whether you're drowning in final-year job applications or fresh into a grad program, networking is a skill worth building now. The next person you meet may not give you a job tomorrow. Some relationships will be transactional, and that's fine. You don't have to be friends with everyone you meet. But the effects of a network compound over time. The connections you make today, or even a decade down the track, become your support system, your sounding board and your referral network. They become the people who think of you first.

Here's the uncomfortable truth about being a student or early-career in tech: you can be technically excellent, and technically excellent is still not enough. You are graduating with the same degree as hundreds of other students. So what sets you apart? A lot of it comes down to your soft skills: communication, active listening, reading a room. Skills that aren't taught in lectures, but are built through experience specifically, through talking to people and unfortunately, AI is not going to network for you (yet).

Last December, I had the incredible opportunity to attend AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas. It was an environment full of people who were confident, curious, and genuinely excited to connect. What started as a handshake and an introduction has since opened up a global network, and people I now consider genuine friends.

A common misconception about networking: "But I Don't Know Anyone"

Not true.

Your network already exists. It starts with the people directly around you — friends, family, classmates, coworkers. My opportunity to go to re:Invent wouldn’t have been possible without my own Perth network telling me about the AWS Builders Grant, giving guidance on my application and backing me for something I hadn’t even heard of. People who I already had in my orbit trusted me, knew of my capability, and thought of me when it counted. Networking doesn't begin the moment you start job hunting. It begins long before that. The relationships you build now, with no agenda attached, are the ones that tend to matter most later.

How do I expand my professional network?

Show up. That’s it.

Start by finding an area you’re genuinely passionate about, such asAI or UX/UI, then locate events within these spaces. You’ll find other like-minded people there.

Some Perth events worth knowing about are:

• Latency Conference and Latency Nights - a cloud-agnostic community with a line up of technical speakers both at their annual event and the Latency Nights running all-year round.
• DDD - which boasts a broader range of tech topics, accommodating to all skill levels.
• UX / UI camp - as a technical person.

If you are a student, you can also show up to student club events. There are often networking events that are within the field you are aiming for and this is a fantastic opportunity to build relationships in a low-pressure environment. These events often invite recent graduates too, which leads me to the most underrated person in the room.

Network with recent graduates. These are people who have more recently been in your shoes. Whilst they are not someone who can give a job, they are the ones who can give guidance on the application process, their thoughts on their company and give you the kind of advice that people further up the ladder sometimes forget to give. Talk to them.

How to actually talk to people

1. Hold out your hand and introduce yourself. Yes, people still accept handshakes.
2. Find an entry point to start the conversation. It doesn't have to be deep. Talk about the event, the speakers or even the food. A bit of a hack is to have a question ready to ask about the other person. People love to talk about themselves and they love to be complimented.
3. Ask your questions, then actually listen. By now you have a bit of a conversation going, now you can ask your questions such as hiring opportunities, company culture, advice etc.
4. Swap details - LinkedIn or email, whatever feels natural.

A few extra tips:

• It’s actually ok to overshare a little. A personal detail creates a real human moment of connection. It makes you memorable and builds trust faster. Some people do not care for this so do check the vibes of the conversation.
• Treat everyone with respect. It doesn't matter who you think is "worth" talking to. Treat everyone well, period.

Maintaining the network

So you've gone out, thrown yourself into a room full of strangers, had some conversations, and swapped contacts. The next step is the one most people skip: follow up.

Not everyone you meet needs a follow-up but for the conversations that stood out to you, it's worth it. A short LinkedIn message, a coffee catch up, or simply picking up where you left off the next time you run into each other. Reestablishing a connection is easier than building a new one. A quick "great to see you again" goes a long way in keeping a relationship warm.

TLDR;

You start small with the people you already know. You show up to events within the community. You introduce yourself. You follow up. You stay in touch and be kind :)

If you have any questions, queries, hot takes, disagreements - feel free to chat to me on LinkedIn. Or if you want to read more about the work we do at Mechanical Rock and the community we’re building, check out more of the website.