Many people have told me that they would rather go for a root canal than do networking. Common reactions to networking include: “Nobody would want to talk to me,” “It’s slimy to network,” “There’s no point to it” or “I don’t know what to say.” In reality, none of the above are true, with the possible exception of the last concern.
Not knowing what to say may be true for some people, but it is an easily fixable problem. In fact, AI can be a useful tool if you don’t know how to reach out to people and you don’t know what questions to ask if they agree to an informational interview.
More and more job seekers are depending on AI in their job search and increasing numbers of companies are using AI to weed them out. In this escalating AI tussle between job seekers and companies, the one thing that can help elevate your job application is actual human contact. One personal human recommendation will be far more powerful for getting your resume noticed than practically any other factor.
The majority of companies have employee referral programs for a reason—they want to hire people who have been vetted. Your chances for getting to a ‘yes’ in your job hunt is far greater if an employee forwarded your resume. Hence, the human touch is even more critical nowadays and networking is vital when job searching.
Here’s the irony—AI can help get you to an actual human in several ways. It can also improve your networking strategy and even enhance how you network so that you can make quality professional connections. Here are three suggestions for how to use AI effectively in networking:
1. Create a Networking Plan
Effective networking means talking with those who are positioned to help you get inside information about your career goal. AI can help you create a networking plan to reach those who would be most helpful for your unique career goals. Here’s a prompt you can use:
Create a plan for people I can network with for the purpose of . . . [fill in your objective, such as informational interviewing or finding a job]. I would like to get a job as a . . . [type your preferred job title]. I am interested in these companies [list specific company names] in these sectors [e.g. healthcare, biotech, nonprofit, etc.]. Tell me how to find actual people to network with.
2. Identify Networking Opportunities
I personally believe that you can network with anyone and anywhere from the bus stop to someone living across the world. However, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to network. AI can help you identify the networking possibilities that will give you the most bang for your buck. Try this prompt:
Identify networking events in [add your location], industry associations or professional clubs in the field of [add your field]. I am a [add any specific information about yourself that might be helpful, e.g. you are a new grad, you are doing a career pivot, your current job and industry.]
3. Hone Your Elevator Pitch
When networking, it is important that you are specific and succinct about what you are looking for. AI can help you get started creating your ask and can give you suggestions for how to improve it. Here’s a sample prompt you could use:
Create a one-sentence elevator pitch for [describe yourself, e.g. a senior majoring in accounting] who is interested in working in [fill in desired industry], who has had work experience in [fill in your work or internship experience] and who has a particular skillset in [fill in special skills].
AI is a powerful tool that can facilitate your networking communication, but it’s a tool that needs to be handled carefully. Here are some things to keep in mind when using AI:
1. Always personalize your writing so that it sounds like you, not AI. Don’t just go with the version that AI handed to you—edit it so that you can take ownership of it.
2. These days, it is fairly easy to dig up people’s personal contact information online. However, for networking and professional outreach, stick to professional emails or LinkedIn communications. Do not attempt to contact someone via their personal email or phone number.
3. As always, check and doublecheck AI. Like this columnist, AI makes mistakes.
Wishing all of you a wonderful holiday season. Happy networking, yes, even during the holiday months.
Anne Chan is a career consultant and licensed California psychotherapist. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at an*********@***il.com © Anne Chan, 2025
