Why Networking Beats Applying for Engineering Jobs

Let’s be real: applying to 200 jobs on LinkedIn and hearing back from two is exhausting. As an aerospace engineer who has been on both sides of the hiring table, I’ve seen firsthand how the system actually works. The truth is, most entry-level roles at companies like NASA, SpaceX, and Lockheed Martin are filled long before the job posting ever goes public. When you apply through a portal, your resume goes into an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) where it’s judged by algorithms. When you get introduced by an internal employee, your resume goes straight to the hiring manager’s desk. That’s why networking beats applying for jobs every single time. But here is where most engineering students mess up: they treat networking like a transaction. They send a connection request and immediately ask, "Are there any internships available?" Don't do this. Engineers hate being treated like a stepping stone. Instead, you need to leverage curiosity. Find engineers who graduated from your university or who work on projects you actually care about. Send a message like this: "Hi [Name], I’m an aerospace engineering student really interested in the structural design work your team is doing on the Starship project. I’ve been doing some personal finite element analysis (FEA) projects and I'd love to hear about your transition from college to SpaceX. Would you be open to a 10-minute chat?" Notice what we did there? We didn't ask for a job. We asked for their expertise and validated their work. People love talking about their journey. Once you have that conversation, your goal is simple: impress them with your genuine interest and let them connect the dots. Nine times out of ten, if you make a good impression, they will ask for your resume to pass along internally. Building this kind of career strategy takes time, but it completely removes you from the resume pile and puts you in the "warm lead" category. This is exactly the kind of outreach and job search execution we teach at FormAWin—helping you skip the line and get noticed by the right people.