I’ve been on the outside looking in at APM programs for a while now, thinking about how people actually build enough momentum to get interviews. And I realized most of the advice out there is really generic—“be authentic,” “follow up,” blah blah. But what I wanted to know is: what actually worked for real people?
So I started talking to some folks in my network who’ve actually landed APM interviews or programs, and the insights were way different than what you’d find in a typical guide. Nobody talks about the real friction points, the mistakes they made, or the specific tactics that shifted things for them.
What I’m curious about now is: what are the unfiltered, veteran-backed networking moves that you’ve either done or seen actually work? Not the polished LinkedIn stuff, but the real-talk tips that moved the needle?
I’m talking about things like: Did you reach out to specific types of people first to build momentum before going after the harder targets? Did you reframe how you positioned yourself? Was there a specific message framework that got responses? How did you actually keep track of all your conversations without losing your mind?
And honestly, what’s the one piece of networking advice you wish someone had given you five years ago when you were starting out?
I’m at the point where I’m starting to network seriously, and I want to learn from people who’ve actually done it, not from generic advice.
start with easier targets to build confidence and get data. talk to people at smaller companies or less competitive programs first. you learn what works, get better at the pitch, then go after the hard targets. and honestly, people can tell when ur desperate. the secret is actually not caring that much about any single outcome.
omg this is what i need rn! im literally starting to network and have no idea where to start honestly
so ur saying start w easier ppl first… that actually makes so much sense
build confidence first then go harder. ok im taking notes for real rn
Effective networking requires viewing your outreach as genuine information-seeking rather than transactional ask-taking. The most successful candidates I’ve mentored followed a deliberate sequencing strategy: first, identify 5-7 people at your target companies or programs who are one degree away through alumni networks. Second, craft personalized, specific messages that demonstrate genuine familiarity with their work or background. Third, schedule conversations with realistic expectations—aim for informational depth rather than immediate referrals. The friction point most people miss is follow-up timing: 40-50% of opportunities surface from third or fourth contacts, not first interactions. Tracking this systematically—even in a simple spreadsheet with conversation dates, key insights, and planned follow-up—dramatically increases conversion.
You’ve got the right mindset! Authentic networking combined with persistence is unstoppable. Go out there and build those connections!
Real talk from real people is exactly what you need. Trust the process and lean on your network!
What actually worked for me was finding one person who believed in me enough to do a real intro to someone else. That warm introduction opened everything. Cold outreach was maybe 10% success rate, but warm intros were like 70%. So I spent way more energy building a few deeper relationships and asking for intros than just cold emailing a bunch of people.
i kept a simple spreadsheet with names, companies, dates i reached out, and when i should follow up. it sounds basic but people actually remember if you follow up thoughtfully after a month. most ppl give up after one email. that consistency is what differentiated me, i think.
Message personalization significantly impacts response rates. Outreach containing specific, verifiable details about the recipient’s role or background shows 30-40% response rates versus generic messages at 2-5%. Cost per quality conversation—measured as meaningful PM insight gained per hour invested—improves dramatically when targeting is informed by actual company-specific intelligence versus broad industry cold-calling.