54% get jobs through connections; still most people make a common networking mistake when job hunting. Experts reveal how to network properly

Finding a job is no longer just about sending out applications and waiting for a recruiter to respond. In a crowded job market, who you know can sometimes matter just as much as what is written on your CV. Yet despite the role networking can play in getting hired, many job seekers only start reaching out to people when they urgently need a job.

According to a 2025 MyPerfectResume survey cited by Forbes, 54% of people said they had got their job through a connection. But only 10% said they reach out to their contacts while looking for work. That gap points to one of the biggest mistakes people make with networking: they wait until they need something.

The biggest networking mistake

Career experts quoted by Business Insider say networking works better when relationships are built before there is a job to ask about.


Dorie Clark, a communication coach and author of The Long Game, said that people often increase their networking efforts when the economy slows down and they become worried about their jobs.

Instead of disappearing from someone's life until a vacancy comes up, she recommends staying in touch even when there is nothing to ask for. A quick message, checking in or simply talking about a shared interest can help keep a professional relationship alive.

Generic LinkedIn messages may not help

Sending the same "Hi, can you help me find a job?" message to dozens of people is another common problem.

As per Business Insider, Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with MyPerfectResume, said: "You can't go into it cold," referring to networking. "That doesn't mean that you can't go into it making a cold connection, but you can't go into it just without a connection."

That connection does not have to be related to work. It could be a shared hobby, an interest or something else that gives the conversation a natural starting point.

Career coach Madeline Mann also suggested putting some effort into every approach. "If you're going to ask for 15 minutes of their time, be sure to show that you spent 15 minutes of yours," she said.

Networking should not be a one-way conversation

Experts also advise job seekers not to spend the entire conversation talking about themselves, their experience and what they want.

Mann put it simply: "Don't focus on knowing people. Focus on noticing people."

Escalera similarly warned against turning every interaction into an elevator pitch. "Having a good elevator pitch is really awesome, but what we don't want to do is make it all about you," she said.

Asking thoughtful questions can make a conversation more useful and less like a request for a favour.

Online networking works, but don't stop there

Research published in the Public Relations Review also found a strong link between networking and job outcomes. A study of 355 students and recent graduates found that more than 94% had found their position through some form of networking. LinkedIn was the most common platform, and a larger LinkedIn network was associated with more job offers.

But online connections should not become the entire strategy.

"I have always been a fan of using social media and other online tools as part of your arsenal, but it is a grave mistake to think of it as the entirety of your networking strategy," Clark told Business Insider.

Meeting people in person, volunteering, attending industry events or even bringing different people together can create relationships that a connection request alone may not.

Be careful about what you ask for

Networking does not mean asking every contact for a referral or an introduction. Clark told Business Insider that people should consider the relationship and the power difference before making a request.

Mann recommends thinking about what you can give back rather than only what you can get. Even useful information, an introduction or a small favour can make a relationship more balanced.

And after someone helps, follow up.

"Do not forget to follow up with them the next day or within a few hours, thanking them," Mann said. "And do not forget within the coming weeks to say how you utilize their insights."

The larger lesson is fairly simple. Networking is not something to switch on when a job disappears. Building genuine professional relationships over time can make the process of finding the next opportunity a little less dependent on sending hundreds of applications into the unknown.