Finding off-campus opportunities can be tough — but with the right strategy, you can uncover hidden openings and get noticed by recruiters. Here are some practical methods that actually work:
Before applying through a company’s portal, try to get a referral from any current employee. It increases your chances drastically.
Send them your resume and the job link or ID. Once they refer you, you’ll get a unique referral link via email — apply using that link for priority consideration.
If you don’t have a referral, reach out directly to company employees, HRs, or tech leads via email or LinkedIn.
Try different email formats such as:
<firstName>.<lastName>@<company_email><firstName><lastName>@<company_email><firstName>_<lastName>@<company_email><firstName>@<company_email>For example, if the company is Uber, the company email domain is uber.com.
Participate in hiring hackathons and contests — many companies recruit directly from them. These platforms often offer faster and more personal responses.
Check out:
Startups are often more flexible and quicker in hiring. Apply on these platforms:
For startups, you can even cold email or DM the CEO or HR directly. You can usually find their contact details on the company website or LinkedIn.
Pro tip: Keep your resume concise and clear — a simple design with clear skills and achievements increases your chances of getting replies.