Start with something you genuinely want to understand.
Reaching out feels more manageable when you have a specific reason. You might want to understand what a role involves, how someone moved from university into work, or which part of a project they found challenging. Choose a question you cannot answer simply by reading their profile. “What surprised you about your first year in this role?” invites a more useful conversation than a general request for career advice.
Look for people already connected to your interests.
A former classmate, a lecturer, a volunteer coordinator, or someone you met at a campus event can be a starting point. You do not need to begin with the most senior person in an organisation. Someone a year or two ahead of you may remember the decisions you are facing. When you approach someone new, explain the shared interest or context without pretending you know them personally.
Make your first message easy to respond to.
Introduce yourself briefly, explain why you chose this person, and ask one focused question. For example: “Hello Amara, I’m finishing a design course and enjoyed your talk about community projects. How did you decide which work to include in your first portfolio? I’d appreciate any perspective you have time to share.” A message like this gives someone a clear way to help. If you would prefer a short call, ask whether they would be comfortable with that rather than sending an unexpected meeting invitation.
Listen, then follow through.
During a conversation, make room for the other person’s experience instead of preparing your next pitch. Ask a follow-up question when something is unclear. Afterwards, thank them for a specific point that helped. If you later act on their suggestion, a brief update can be a natural way to stay in touch. Do not describe an introduction or friendly conversation as a referral unless the person has explicitly offered one.
Leave room for a no, or no reply.
People may be busy, unavailable, or unable to help. One polite follow-up can be enough; repeated messages are unlikely to improve the exchange. Keep exploring other conversations and doing your own work. The aim is to build mutual understanding over time, not to make every person responsible for finding you an opportunity.
Try one small introduction this week.
Choose one person whose work interests you. Write a message of three or four sentences with a clear introduction and one honest question. Read it back and remove anything that sounds like a demand or a copied sales pitch. Send it through a professional channel the person has made available, then put your attention back into your learning and applications.