When you hear the word networking, you might imagine meeting and shaking hands with a stranger, collecting business cards, or racking up hundreds of LinkedIn connections. But real networking isn’t about how many people are in your contact list or how often you post updates on LinkedIn. It’s about the quality of the relationships you build. It’s about having meaningful conversations with people who can help you learn, grow, and discover new opportunities. It’s also about providing the same type of value back to those connections.
Whether you’re exploring career paths, deciding on an education or training program to take or starting a job search, reaching out to people and networking can give you a major advantage.
Here are four reasons to network:
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Explore Career Options
If you’re unsure about what training or education program to take or which career path to follow, talking to people already in those roles can give you clarity. Networking allows you to explore different paths through insights from people working in those industries, rather than just your own research.
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Help You Make Informed Decisions
Before applying to a new company or changing industries, reach out to people who have experience working for the company or job you’re interested in. These people can help you understand a company’s culture, values, and what the day-to-day operations are like, as well as give you insight into an industry, so you can make more informed decisions about what’s right for you.
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Tap Into the Hidden Job Market
Approximately 70-80% of jobs are never publicly posted. They’re filled through personal referrals, recommendations, and internal hires. Networking is your key to unlocking these hidden opportunities, as people in your network will alert you to opportunities that don’t ever get posted.
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Career Growth
People in your network can support your professional development by offering mentorship, advice, referrals, and guidance as you grow in your field. Consider your career goals and think about who is already in your network in a career or job related to your goals. Reach out and have a conversation to learn more about what they do and how they got there.
Build Meaningful Connections
You might have hundreds of LinkedIn connections — but how many of them do you really know? The value of your network lies not in its size, but in the strength and purpose of your relationships.
When networking, ask yourself:
- Who do I want to learn from?
- Who is doing the kind of work I’m interested in?
- What do I hope to gain from this connection?
- What can I offer a new connection?
Being intentional when networking leads to deeper conversations, more meaningful guidance, and better outcomes. Focus on building genuine relationships where both sides gain value.
How Networking Helps You in a Job Search
Sometimes you’re networking to help with your future career goals and sometimes you’re networking because you are actively looking for a job.
When you’re looking for a job, people you know (you’re network) can:
- Recommend you for jobs before they’re posted
- Share internal openings at their company
- Refer you directly to hiring managers
- Provide insight into recruiting processes and what hiring teams are looking for
- Offer feedback to help you improve your resume or interview skills
Employers tend to interview candidates who come recommended by someone they trust. It feels less risky. A referral can fast-track your application past the initial screening.
During your job search, you can also reach out to people you don’t already know who are connected to the companies you’re interested in to gain information about potential opportunities. Try looking on LinkedIn for recruiters, hiring managers, human resources staff, or employees of the companies.
The idea of starting to network can be daunting, but networking doesn’t have to be formal – it’s just talking to people to gain information, access resources, and explore opportunities. Take the time to determine who might be the right person to connect with and how speaking with them can help you reach your goals. Being intentional when networking can help you to find the right job.
Unsure of where to start? Career Counselling & Coaching can help you figure out a networking plan and prepare you to start making connections.
You are in charge of where you go from here.
~ Ashley and Larissa
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