You’ve polished your resume over and over, crafted thoughtful cover letters, and hit "submit" on countless applications. You wait, you refresh your inbox, and you're met with… silence. It’s a frustrating cycle, and it can make you feel like you’re shouting into a void. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and it’s not a reflection of your new skills.
The online application process has changed. What you can't see on the other side of the screen is a system struggling with a maze of "ghost jobs" that may not even be real, and for the legitimate openings, a tidal wave of AI-generated resumes that makes it nearly impossible for a a thoughtful, human-written application to stand out.
So how do you bypass the digital noise? How do you get your story in front of a real person? You go ‘old school.’ You focus on what has always worked: real, human conversations.
The truth is, most jobs aren’t filled through online applications. Estimates show that up to 70-80% of jobs are filled through the “hidden job market,” meaning they are filled by referrals and personal connections before they are ever posted publicly. This is why we encourage students to start networking on day one. It’s not just a nice thought; it’s a data-driven strategy. An applicant who is referred is significantly more likely to get an interview and a job offer.
So where do you begin? The good news is, your community is all around you.
Get Out There (In Person and Online)
Networking is key to tapping into that hidden job market. Attending local meetups, like Code Campfire, is a great way to start. You can find a list of local tech meetups on our website. These events are opportunities to learn, meet people in the industry, and hear about roles that might be a great fit. But not all your networking needs to be in tech. Join groups for things you enjoy—board game nights, book clubs, car clubs, knitting groups, parenting groups, church groups, neighborhood groups—you get the idea. A casual conversation with someone who knows someone can be just as powerful as a formal networking event.
Your network also exists online, so it’s important to stay active in digital spaces.
Find and connect with fellow NSS alumni. See where they work and what projects they’re excited about. Follow local tech companies to stay informed about their work and culture. Reach out to people at companies you’d like to work at one day. Post about your own journey into tech and the projects you’ve built. Comment on other’s posts. The more you engage, the more often you will show up in other people's LinkedIn feeds.
The NSS Community Slack
Think of our Slack channels as your safe space. It’s the perfect place to ask technical questions, share resources, celebrate small wins, and get encouragement from people who have been exactly where you are.
Community Forums
Beyond our Slack, contributing to discussions in other forums like the NashDev Slack or Code Campfire keeps you visible and connected to the broader tech community.
Building your network is a long-term investment in your professional future. It can pay-off now while you’re on the job hunt and may lead you to your second job before you even start a search. So now that you know where to look, how do you start the conversation without being awkward? In our next post, we’ll cover tactics for crafting introductions (in-person & online), asking for informational interviews, and following up like a pro networker.
