By Rob Sabo
The majority of U.S. workers—as well as hiring managers—agree that networking is an invaluable tool when it comes to landing a new job, but most workers, especially Gen Z, aren’t sure of the best ways to build business relationships, a recent survey by Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll said.
According to the March 11 survey, 92 percent of hiring managers said job seekers could improve their chances of getting hired by boosting their networking efforts.
On the other side of the desk, 84 percent of U.S. workers agree that networking is crucial to landing job interviews, but job seekers aren’t sure whether they should turn to online work platforms or attend traditional in-person networking events.
Nearly three-quarters of all job seekers polled said they use online job platforms such as LinkedIn or Meetup, while just over two-thirds said they also attend networking conferences, business events, and informal coffee chats and dinner events to bolster their professional networks.
Younger job seekers are equally comfortable using digital tools and in-person networking events to make new connections, the study found. Gen Zers aged 18 to 29 and Millennials aged 30 to 45 were the heaviest users of online job and networking platforms, and they had the highest attendance rates at in-person networking events.
Less than half of older job hunters—Gen Xers ages 46 to 61 and Baby Boomers at the tail end of their careers—said they used digital or virtual tools for professional networking.
However, the study also highlighted the importance of networking. Just under 40 percent of workers said networking led to a job referral, while 36 percent said it helped secure a job interview. Just under a third of employees said their networking efforts were a factor in receiving a job offer, the study noted. Another 17 percent said their networking efforts led to a promotion.
Bob Funk Jr., CEO, president, and chair of Express Employment International, said the data indicate a workforce caught between intention and uncertainty.
“People know relationships can open doors, and many already benefit from them, yet too many lack the confidence or clarity to navigate today’s fast-changing networking environment,” Funk said in a statement.
“As the way we connect continues to evolve, workers need guidance that helps them turn those connections into real career opportunities.”
Despite knowing the importance of networking to improve their chances of landing a job, just under 60 percent of survey respondents said they didn’t know where to find the best networking opportunities in their respective fields.
Additionally, 44 percent of all job seekers polled admitted they lack the soft skills that make networking a viable option for the time requirement. That number jumps to 51 percent for Gen Zers, who felt woefully unprepared for the social interactions required for successful networking.
A Harvard Business School study, conducted in conjunction with LinkedIn, mapped 2 billion LinkedIn connections from more than 9 million employees between 2004 and 2018. The study found that employees with a robust network of professional connections on the site were often more attractive to hiring managers.
“LinkedIn connections become a proxy for real-world connections, and potentially a tool for differentiating the potential contributions of job candidates,” the study noted.
The Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll job insights survey queried just over 1,000 adults over the age of 18 and 1,000 hiring managers for several weeks in November 2025.
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