It depends on the role and the stage of your search.
For internship positions, HR and recruiters are typically managing a structured, high-volume process. In most cases, they will direct you to the company’s application portal rather than advance your candidacy directly.
For full-time positions, the dynamic can shift. Recruiters may be more proactive and receptive to outreach — though this still varies widely depending on the company.
In both cases, we encourage you to focus your networking energy on working professionals — especially UC Irvine alumni — who are at or have worked at your target companies. These are the connections most likely to offer real insights, flag open roles on their teams, or refer you directly. That is where networking tends to have the most impact.
A few good places to start building those connections:
- CODE Alumni Directory — search for alumni by company, industry, or role directly within the platform
- Your Program’s LinkedIn Group — a community of current students and graduates you can tap into immediately
- Anteater Network — UC Irvine ‘s broader alumni network, giving you reach well beyond your program