Getting referrals when you don't know anyone
How to manufacture referrals from zero network — LinkedIn second-degree mining, alumni leverage, OSS-PR-to-referral path, and the give-first reciprocity that actually works.
Getting referrals when you don't know anyone
Status: Outline — full guide coming soon. Get notified when it ships →
What this covers
- LinkedIn second-degree mining: filtering by company + role to find 2-hop connections
- Alumni leverage even from non-IIT colleges: the alumni-DM template that works
- The OSS-PR-to-referral pipeline: how a merged PR converts to a referral request
- The give-first reciprocity rule: don't ask for a referral as the first interaction
Why this matters for Indian devs going remote
Indian devs from non-elite colleges often believe "I don't have a network for referrals" — but the network exists; it's just not labeled. Second-degree LinkedIn, dormant alumni, OSS contacts: each is a referral source if approached correctly. Manufacturing referrals from a "zero" start is a skill, not a privilege.
Outline
LinkedIn second-degree mining
TODO — the filter combo (company + role + mutual connections); the message that converts a mutual into an intro.
Alumni leverage from any college
TODO — the alumni-DM template; LinkedIn alumni search; even non-elite alumni respond to specific asks.
The OSS PR → referral path
TODO — merged PR → maintainer DM → "I'd be interested in roles there, would you refer?" — exact timing.
The give-first rule
TODO — never ask for a referral in the first message; share something useful first (PR review, bug report, useful note).
Common mistakes to avoid
- DM-ing a stranger asking for a referral as the opener
- Treating LinkedIn connection requests as referrals
- Asking the same alumni for a referral to 5 different companies
Templates / examples
TODO — LinkedIn second-degree filter recipe, alumni-DM template, OSS-PR-to-referral sequence, and the "give first" content list.
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