Build a Network That Brings Jobs to You

A simple 30-minute-a-week system that builds relationships, leverage, and visibility

Sep 04, 2025

250: The average number of candidates who apply for each job vacancy.1

With that many résumés in the pile, applying cold is a losing game. The way around it is to have a network, the kind that get you noticed before a posting even goes live. Still, the word networking triggers eye-rolls: another cringe LinkedIn request, another awkward ask, another chore.

Here’s the reality: 70% of jobs are filled before they’re ever posted.2 That means 70% of the time a hiring manager already has a candidate in mind as soon as the team is ready to grow. For those candidates, that’s not luck, it’s network.

The people with the best opportunities aren’t scrambling when they need a job. They’re quietly building career connections long before they need it by finding simple, practical ways to build relationships, visibility, and trust that compounds over time.

If you want opportunities to start coming to you, below are 4 pillars of building network leverage that you can fit into 30 minutes per week so that career opportunities start coming to you.

Pillar 1: Relationships.

Who You Know Before You Need Them

Most people only reach out when they’re job hunting, but that’s like trying to buy insurance after your house catches fire.

The strongest careers, however, are built on “pre-invested” relationships. People who already know, like, and trust you.

How to build it in 30 minutes a week:

Reach out to one old colleague, classmate, or alum. Write a thoughtful message about their recent win or milestone (not a generic “how are you”).
Leave one thoughtful LinkedIn comment that adds perspective (not just “Congrats!”).
Rotate between warm contacts (people you know) and weak ties (friends-of-friends). Research shows weak ties are the source of most opportunities.

Pro Tip: Relationships aren’t built in the inbox. They’re built in the in-between moments: small check-ins, small notes, small touches.

Pillar 2: Visibility

Staying on the Radar

You can be brilliant, but if nobody knows what you’re doing, you’re invisible.

Visibility is leverage because it keeps you top of mind. When roles open, projects need leaders, or panels need speakers, people think of the visible professionals first.

How to build it in 30 minutes a week:

Post once a week on LinkedIn: share a lesson learned, a resource, or an observation about your industry. Keep it sincere and useful. No need for exaggerated stories or forced wisdom.
Share one small win with your manager or team in a concise update.
Contribute regularly to a niche Slack, forum, or alumni group.

Pro Tip: Visibility doesn’t mean shouting. It means leaving breadcrumbs of your competence and perspective where others can see them.

Pillar 3: Trust

Proving You Can Deliver

Everyone has a resume. Few have trust. Trust is built when people see you consistently follow through, add value, and play the long game.

In hiring debriefs at Amazon and Microsoft, I noticed a pattern: we didn’t just ask “can they do the job?” We asked “can we trust them when it gets hard?”

How to build it in 30 minutes a week:

Send a quick “here’s how it went” follow-up to someone who gave you advice.
Share resources or introductions without expecting anything back.
Write one STAR story from your past work (Situation, Task, Action, Result) so you’re ready to show how you delivered real results.

Pro Tip: Trust compounds. Every time you follow through, you bank credibility. Every time you ghost or flake, you spend it.

Pillar 4: Momentum

Small Bets, Big Results

The enemy of career leverage is overthinking. People often wait for perfect clarity before acting, and by the time they’re ready, the opportunity is gone.

Momentum comes from small, consistent bets. One conversation. One project. One pitch.

How to build it in 30 minutes a week:

Apply to one role with intention (instead of blasting 20 generic apps).
Set up one exploratory call in an industry you’re curious about.
Draft one paragraph of your professional “story” and test it with a friend.

Pro Tip: You don’t need the perfect plan. You need movement. Momentum creates clarity, not the other way around.

The 30-Minute Advantage

The first step is to put a recurring 30-minute meeting on your calendar, bookmark this post, and commit to investing 30 minutes per week for your future self. Make it a standing appointment during your peak focus time.

Resumes don’t get people hired. Relationships, visibility, trust, and momentum do.

If you want your next opportunity to find you, start building leverage 30 minutes at a time. You’ll thank yourself when the phone rings.

Rooting For You,

Justin

Want to see the systems top candidates use to land roles at Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta? That’s what I share every week in Career Field Guide.

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