You've heard it a hundred times: "it's all about who you know." Cool. You know your classmates, your professors, and nobody who works at a tech company.

That advice is only useful if you already have the network. What nobody explains is how to build one starting from exactly zero, without feeling like a fraud sliding into strangers' inboxes.

Here's the plan I'd give a younger version of myself, back before our IT club existed and I didn't know a single working developer either.

1. Networking Is a Savings Account, Not an ATM

Most people only think about networking the week before they need a job, which is exactly why it feels awkward. That's like walking into a bank you've never opened an account with and asking for a loan.

Real networking works like a savings account. Every genuine interaction, every helpful comment, every time you show up and contribute, is a small deposit. You're not trying to withdraw anything in that moment.…