A mentor told me to network only with people above my pay grade. Is that good advice or not?

I was at a tech meetup in Midtown Atlanta back in March and a senior dev named Marcus pulled me aside. He said I should never waste time talking to people at my same level because they can't help me move up. So I spent the next three months only targeting managers and directors at these networking events here in Atlanta. I got a few business cards but none of them led to a real conversation or a job lead. Meanwhile my buddy who talks to everyone at the meetups landed a referral from another junior dev he met. Now I'm wondering if Marcus's advice was actually bad or if I just did it wrong. Has anyone else gotten that kind of advice and did it work for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

faithpatel1d ago

Funny how that advice backfired, huh? Marcus probably meant well but he forgot that people at your level actually have peers who move up too. My rule is simple: talk to everyone but have a goal for each conversation. At a meetup here in Nashville last year, I got a solid referral from a fellow junior dev who ended up at a startup six months later. Meanwhile, the senior directors I chased mostly just smiled and handed out cards. Build real connections with people who are on the same climb as you, and the seniors will notice your hustle naturally. Your buddy's story proves it, sometimes the best leads come from someone just one step ahead.

perry.jesse1d ago

Wait, a senior dev actually told you to ignore junior people entirely? That's insane.

kellyallen1d ago

Used to be on the other side of this myself. I remember thinking juniors were just a drain on my time with questions that felt obvious. But over the years I realized that explaining things to someone else forces you to really know your stuff. You might find gaps in your own understanding you never noticed. It's also how you build trust and a good team culture. Honestly that senior dev sounds like they forgot what it was like to be new, and that's a shame.