Networking matters because many jobs are filled through referrals, internal candidates and people the hiring manager already knows, not only through public postings. Statistics Canada’s employer survey puts a number on it for Alberta: personal contacts, referrals and informal networks are used for about three in four vacancies. Online job boards are used for slightly more.
That is the case for doing both: apply to posted jobs, and make sure people in your target field know who you are. This guide covers where to meet people in Alberta’s tech and business communities, how to ask for an informational interview, and how to follow up without being pushy.
- In Alberta in the second quarter of 2026, employers reported using online job boards for 81.2% of vacancies and personal contacts, referrals or informal networks for 74.2%. Employers use more than one method, so the shares overlap.
- Networking supports applying; it does not replace it. Do both every week.
- Start with people who already know your work: former colleagues, supervisors, instructors and classmates.
- An informational interview is a 20-minute conversation in which you ask about someone’s work. You are not asking for a job.
- Follow up within two days with a specific thank-you, and share something useful when you can.
How Alberta employers recruit
Statistics Canada asks Alberta employers how they look for people. The answer covers all occupations and all employers, not only technology and business roles, and it is not about Ucademy graduates.
View the data as a table
| Recruitment method | Share of Alberta job vacancies |
|---|---|
| Online job boards | 81.2% |
| Personal contacts, referrals, informal networks | 74.2% |
| Company website | 57.3% |
| Social media | 49.3% |
| Job or recruitment fairs at schools, colleges or universities | 22.5% |
| Help-wanted sign at the workplace | 18.7% |
| Government employment centre or website | 17.7% |
| Professional networking, headhunters or employment agency | 15.6% |
| Newspaper ads | 4.5% |
Employers can use more than one method for the same vacancy, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Personal contacts and referrals are used for about three in four vacancies, but online job boards are used for slightly more. Networking helps; it does not replace applying to posted jobs.
Source: Statistics Canada, Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, table 14-10-0443-01 · Alberta, all occupations, Q2 2026 (April to June), unadjusted.
Data checked October 19, 2026: Statistics Canada Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, Alberta, Q2 2026. Labour-market data, not a program outcome.
Read the figures as a map of where to spend your time, not as a ranking of what “works”. They describe all occupations and all employers in Alberta, not only technology and business roles.
| Channel (share of Alberta vacancies) | What to do about it |
|---|---|
| Online job boards (81.2%) | Apply with a resume tailored to each posting. Keep a short list of target employers and check their postings weekly. |
| Personal contacts, referrals, informal networks (74.2%) | Tell people what role you are looking for, in one sentence. Ask them who else you should speak to. |
| Company website (57.3%) | Some employers post only on their own site. Bookmark ten target employers and check them. |
| Social media (49.3%) | Keep your LinkedIn profile current, and follow target companies and the people who work there. |
| Job or recruitment fairs at schools, colleges or universities (22.5%) | Attend one if your school hosts it. Bring a one-page resume and two questions for each employer. |
| Government employment centre or website (17.7%) | Job Bank and local employment centres are free. Use them as one input among several. |
Shares from the Statistics Canada table in the data block above (Alberta, all occupations, Q2 2026). Recommendations are the author’s.
Where to network in Alberta tech and business
- Platform Calgary: a non-profit organization for Calgary’s tech community, with an innovation centre in East Village and a public events calendar at platformcalgary.com/events.
- Calgary.Tech: a local tech news site with an events section that lists meetups, talks and conferences.
- Edmonton Startup Week: a week of events for Edmonton’s startup and tech community. Check the current year’s schedule for panels, workshops and socials.
- LinkedIn: connect with local professionals in your target field and comment on their posts before you reach out, so the message does not arrive cold.
- Industry associations: APEGA for engineering and geoscience, and the Project Management Institute’s chapters in Calgary (Southern Alberta) and Edmonton (Northern Alberta). A local cybersecurity or IT professional group and local business associations fit the same role.
- Former classmates and colleagues: people you have studied or worked with who now hold jobs are often willing to answer a question or pass on a name.
- Conferences and workshops: even a one-day event creates real conversations, particularly if you volunteer or help at the registration desk.
Pick two venues and attend them regularly instead of sampling ten. Familiar faces build trust faster than a single appearance at a large event.
Informational interviews: ask for advice, not a job
An informational interview is a conversation in which you ask someone about their career, their work and their industry. It is not a job interview. Most professionals are willing to give 20 minutes to someone who asks thoughtfully and has prepared good questions.
These conversations reduce uncertainty, give you inside knowledge about what employers value, and sometimes lead to referrals. Alberta’s ALIS career site recommends researching the person and their organization first, keeping the message short, naming the person you are writing to, and following up if you hear nothing.
Subject: Question about your path into [role], 20 minutes?
Hello [name],
I am a [your situation, for example “career changer completing a diploma in IT”] interested in [role or field] in [Calgary or Edmonton]. I read [one specific thing they wrote, said or built] and it helped me understand [what].
Would you have 20 minutes in the next few weeks, by phone or video, to tell me how you got into the work and what you would learn first if you were starting again? I will keep to the time.
Thank you, [your name]
Template written for this article. Replace every bracket with a real detail.
- How did you get into this work, and what did you do before?
- What does a normal week look like?
- Which skills or tools do you use most that a beginner should learn first?
- What do hiring managers on your team look for in a first-time candidate?
- Is there anything you wish you had known before starting?
- Who else would you suggest I speak to?
The last question is the most useful. It turns one conversation into the next.
How to network without feeling fake
Networking works best when you treat it as curiosity, not prospecting. Be interested in people first. Ask more questions than you make requests. Offer something when you can: an article relevant to their work, a link to a tool you used, an introduction to someone they might want to know.
Relationships built that way last. Ones built only on “I need a job” rarely do.
“Thanks for your time. Let me know if you hear of any openings.”
“Thank you for Tuesday. Your point about reading error logs first changed how I approach my practice projects. I will send you a short summary of what I build in the next month.”
Sending a resume with the thank-you and asking for a job
A two-line thank-you that names one specific thing you learned, with no ask
- Week 1: write your one-sentence description of the role you want.
- Week 1: send three requests for informational interviews, to people you already know or share a connection with.
- Week 1: update your LinkedIn headline and read our LinkedIn profile tips for Canadian tech and business job seekers.
- Week 2: attend one local event and talk to two people.
- Week 2: send thank-you notes within two days of each conversation.
- Week 2: apply to at least three posted jobs. Networking and applying run together.
Once the conversations start, you will need to be ready to talk about yourself and your skills. See our tech job interview preparation guide for what to expect, how to get your first tech job in Canada with no experience for the wider plan, and how to choose a career path in technology or business if you are still deciding which people to talk to. You can also see our program list.
Sources
- Statistics Canada — Job Vacancy and Wage Survey, table 14-10-0443-01 (recruitment methods, Alberta, Q2 2026)
- Platform Calgary and its events calendar
- Calgary.Tech — Events
- alis — Informational interviews and How to contact employers to find unadvertised jobs
- Project Management Institute — Northern Alberta Chapter
Checked October 20, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is networking for landing a tech or business job in Alberta?
Networking is one of the most effective ways to learn about job openings before they are publicly posted and to get a warm introduction to a hiring manager. In Alberta's comparatively close-knit professional communities, a referral or a familiar name can meaningfully improve your chances of getting an interview.
Where are the best networking events and communities for tech and business professionals in Alberta?
In Calgary, organizations such as Startup Calgary and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce host regular events. Edmonton has a growing tech scene with meetups through TechEdmonton and various industry groups. LinkedIn events, professional associations, and local Slack or Discord communities are useful for connecting with peers in both cities and across the province.
How do I network effectively if I am introverted or new to the field?
Start small: one-on-one coffee chats (in person or virtual) are far less intimidating than large events. Prepare two or three genuine questions about the other person's work or career path. Online communities, LinkedIn comments, and open-source contributions are all valid networking channels that do not require walking into a room of strangers.
What should I say when reaching out to someone on LinkedIn in Alberta?
Keep it brief and specific. Mention a genuine reason for reaching out — their company, a post they wrote, a shared professional interest — and make a clear, low-pressure ask, such as a 20-minute call to learn about their career path. Avoid sending a generic connection request with no message, and never lead with a request for a job referral in a first message.