I’ve been grinding on networking for about two months now, sending outreach messages, going to a few events, trying to build something. And I’m starting to wonder if I’m being naive about what networking can actually deliver.
Like, I see people talk about getting PM roles through a friend of a friend, or someone they met at a conference. And sure, that happens. But I’m also seeing people spend months networking and still not land interviews. So where’s the actual line between “this is totally worth my time” and “I’m chasing my tail here”?
I don’t have a strong tech network. I don’t know anyone at FAANG. I’m not going to randomly bump into someone who can help. So when I’m cold messaging PMs on LinkedIn or trying to get coffee chats, what should I actually be expecting? What’s a realistic timeline? And more importantly, when does it make sense to stop and pivot to something else—like just grinding APM applications instead?
I guess what I’m really asking is: what are the actual odds here, and how do I know if I’m making progress or just wasting time?
real talk? networking alone probably won’t land you a pm role. it’s a piece of the puzzle, but not the whole thing. you need networking plus good applications plus interview prep plus genuine skill signals. if you’re at month two and you don’t have any real leads brewing, that’s normal. if you’re at month six with zero progress, you might need to rethink the strategy. most people see real results somewhere between months 4-8, assuming they’re being smart about who they’re reaching out to and actually following up. don’t quit too early, but also don’t pretend networking is magic.
Realistic expectations matter here. If you’re starting with zero connections, your first goal isn’t landing a role directly through referral—it’s building credibility and learning. In your first three months, aim for fifteen to twenty substantive conversations with people in PM. Track what you’re learning. By month four or five, you should have one or two people who genuinely know your work and capabilities. A referral from one of them is exponentially more valuable than cold applications. The timeline isn’t two months; it’s six to nine months of consistent, thoughtful networking. That’s not wasted time—that’s building real social capital.
On the APM application question: do both. Networking and applications aren’t mutually exclusive. Apply to programs while you’re building relationships. Some of your networking conversations might lead to direct roles or referrals into APM programs. Others will lead nowhere, but they’re teaching you what companies are looking for and what your gaps are. Use that feedback to strengthen your applications. Six months of parallel effort—networking plus applications—is way more effective than choosing one or the other.
so like, dont expect magic but also keep showing up? got it. ill keep applying + networking but ill be realistic about timing. thanks!
You’re already ahead of most people by being thoughtful about this! Keep building those relationships genuinely. Progress isn’t always visible at first, but it compounds. Stay consistent!
I spent about five months networking before anything real happened—lots of conversations that went nowhere, some great advice, a few interesting intros. Then someone I’d chatted with six months earlier reached out because her company was hiring. That one conversation led to an interview. The months before felt kind of pointless, but they weren’t. I was building credibility slowly. People remember you if you’re respectful and genuinely curious, not just trying to extract something.
Based on community data and hiring patterns, cold networking typically converts to interviews at roughly 5-8% rate if you’re thoughtful about it. That means 50 conversations might yield two to three interviews. Of those interviews, roughly 20-30% convert to offers. So statistically, expect to have 100-150 substantive conversations before landing a PM role through pure networking. That’s why most people combine it with APM applications—applications have higher conversion rates but lower personalization. The hybrid approach is actually optimal.