Job search advice is plentiful, but there's one thing that remains central to weathering the career storms: networking. Yeah, the term makes us cringe and want to hide under our desks, too, but there's a reason it's been good advice for more years than desks have existed. Turns out a long and successful career isn’t just about being smart or working hard, it’s about knowing and helping people.
Here are Five Fast Facts about building a strong career network:
- 🤝 It's Who You Know - A massive 54% of people reported getting their jobs through a connection. That means more than half the workforce didn't just "spray and pray" hundreds of applications; they knew a guy who knew a guy.
- 🤦 Choosing To Fail - Even though networking is clearly the MVP of job hunting, only 10% of job seekers actually bother to reach out to their contacts during a search. It’s like being in a desert and refusing to ask the person next to you for a sip of their giant, ice-cold water bottle.
- 👋 Don't Be Shy - About 34% of people avoid networking altogether because they lack confidence. Translation: one-third of the population is so scared of awkward small talk that they’d rather stay unemployed or stuck in a job they don’t like.
- 👀 Get Involved - Get creative: host regular dinner gatherings, start a "learning group," or volunteer somewhere new. You'll build skills and meet new people, and that expands your network (and theirs, too!). Even if it's just asking for advice because your skills are "professional snack-eating" and "TikTok doom-scroller."
- ♥️ Pay It Forward - Strong networks come from helping others, too! If you're that person who always goes the extra mile to help others get connected, guess what the response will be when it's your turn to ask for help? Bingo.
🔥Bottom line: This applies to both job losses and finding opportunities for advancement. No matter the situation, your dream job isn’t hiding under your bed, it’s probably hiding in your contacts list. Networking isn’t about awkward handshakes and saying “per my last email,” but about building real relationships that actually help you succeed. It's uncomfortable - especially at first - but if you put in the time and effort, then when it's your turn to get an assist your future self will thank you for enduring the awkwardness today!
What's your best networking advice?
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