Ex-Google Recruiter's 3 Networking Mistakes to Avoid

What the recruiter found

Farah Sharghi, a technical recruiter with more than a decade of experience at companies including Google, Uber, TikTok and The New York Times, says networking meetings frequently fail because job seekers do not understand how referrals actually work, according to her piece published by CNBC on 10 November 2026.

When a contact recommends someone for a role, Sharghi explains, they are typically asked to fill out a form explaining how they know the candidate and why the candidate would be suitable. The outcome of a networking conversation, she says, is essentially the first draft of that referral note.

The three mistakes and what to do instead

Sharghi identifies three specific errors and offers direct replacements for each.

Mistake 1 – Listing accomplishments when asked 'Tell me about yourself.' The recruiter says a long list of achievements gives a potential referrer nothing concrete to write down. Instead, she recommends a short, structured answer that names the current role, the reason for reaching out, and the career direction being pursued. Her example runs to fewer than 30 words and, she argues, effectively writes the opening line of the referral note for the contact.

Mistake 2 – Asking 'What is a typical day for you?' Sharghi says this question produces only vague, general answers. She recommends asking what part of the job the contact finds most rewarding, which draws out a specific moment rather than a list of duties. She also suggests following up by asking how performance is measured at year-end, since that detail rarely appears in job descriptions but is among the first things a recruiter asks a hiring manager when a role opens.

Mistake 3 – Asking 'What advice would you give someone just starting out?' According to Sharghi, this question tends to produce generic responses. Before the meeting ends, she recommends asking instead: 'Based on what we discussed today, is there anyone else you think I should talk to?' Referencing the specific conversation, she says, narrows the contact's thinking and makes it easier for them to suggest a name.

Context

Sharghi's advice is aimed at a job market she describes as difficult to break into. Her framework treats every networking meeting as a step in a chain: one conversation, handled well, can lead to introductions, referrals and eventually interviews.

Why it matters for job seekers

• If you are a recent graduate or career changer, consider preparing a concise, two-sentence answer to 'Tell me about yourself' that names your current background and the specific direction you want to move in, so a contact can repeat it easily.
• If you are an experienced professional switching sectors, consider asking contacts how their performance is measured rather than what their day looks like, since that detail can help you frame your existing skills in terms a new industry recognises.
• If your networking meetings regularly end without follow-up, consider closing every conversation by asking whether there is a specific person the contact thinks you should speak with next, referencing what was discussed.
• If you are applying through referrals, consider that the quality of the referral note may depend on how clearly you communicated your goal during the original meeting, according to Sharghi's account.

Audience note: This advice applies to job seekers worldwide at any career stage who rely on professional networking to find new roles.