Making Professional Connections Is Tough For Gen Z
Gen Z has never been more connected with each other than they are today. Between social media, group chats, video calls, and professional platforms, today’s students can reach anyone they know with a few taps.
Even so, according to new research from LinkedIn, many students still feel surprisingly disconnected from others. That includes people who might just have the biggest impact on their careers.
LinkedIn reported that Censuswide conducted a study this summer, which surveyed more than 18,000 professionals and more than 6,000 marketers across multiple countries. Their goal was to get a real sense of how younger workers go about making connections and landing new opportunities.
What they found was that even in a world built around connecting people, many Gen Z professionals aren’t sure how to actually forge those connections. For the greater group, the challenge isn’t a lack of ambition, but instead a lack of confidence.
THE NERVES IN NETWORKING
LinkedIn shared that 72% of Gen Z professionals feel disconnected from people who could help them advance their careers. To elaborate, many are worried about the social risks that come with reaching out. Roughly 37% worry about bothering someone, another 37% fear being judged, and another 34% are anxious about sounding fake.
If that sounds familiar to you, you’re definitely not alone. Think about the last time you considered sending a quick message to a professional on LinkedIn, asking for a bit of career advice, or introducing yourself to someone whose work you admire. You had the idea. You knew what you wanted to say. But somewhere between thinking about it and actually doing it, the plan stalled. The intention didn’t quite turn into action. Building up the courage to actually draft a message and then hit send can be challenging for people.
This is where the problem lies, because opportunities often begin with simple conversations. While AI is rapidly changing how people search for jobs, apply for roles, and develop professional skills, relationships still carry so much weight in the academic world.
LinkedIn says that 27% of Gen Z professionals have found opportunities through online professional communities, and U.S. job applicants with an inside connection were nearly seven times more likely to get hired than those without one. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z respondents have reported that no one has taught them how to build professional relationships.
On the flip side, the good news is that those students who are nervous about contacting others are likely more willing to help than they think. A solid 83% of Millennials and Gen X professionals said they would help someone looking to launch their career, even if they didn’t know them personally.
“People may be more open to hearing from you than you expect, so give yourself permission to hit send,” encourages LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher, in a separate piece on LinkedIn.
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