IInside Express

Networking Matters, but Job Seekers Don’t Know Where to Begin—Employment Insights from Express

0
Shares
0
0
0
0

Express Employment Professionals’ America Employed and Canada Employed press series explore the state of employment in North America, including everything from hiring expectations and HR challenges to job seekers’ optimism and shrinking the skills gap. Learn about the latest insights uncovered in a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey. 

New data from an Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey shows workers and employers overwhelmingly believe networking is essential. Yet many job seekers feel unprepared, unsure of where or how to do it in an increasingly digital world and are divided on whether digital platforms help or hinder the process.

How America Networks Today

Job seekers use a wide range of methods to build relationships, including:

  • Online platforms like LinkedIn or Meetup (73%)
  • In-person events ranging from conferences to meetups (66%)
  • Informal social settings from coffee chats to dinners (65%)
  • Cold outreach through email or social media (62%)
  • Virtual events and webinars (59%)
Illustration infographic showing U.S. networking statistics. Five circular charts display: “73% Online Platforms,” “66% In-Person Events,” “65% Informal Social Settings,” “62% Cold Outreach Through Email or Social Media,” and “59% Virtual Events and Webinars.” Below, an illustrated man in a shirt and tie gestures while standing near a table with a laptop. An illustrated woman in a blouse and skirt looks at her phone. Logos and text at the bottom read: “AMERICA EMPLOYED” and a source note describing the Job Seeker Report conducted by The Harris Poll for Express Employment Professionals.

Despite clear differences in how people network, the impact is undeniable, as 71% of job seekers report at least one positive outcome tied to the relationships they built. Even as job seekers recognize networking’s value, many feel unsure about how to navigate it. They say:

  • 59% do not know the best places or websites to network within their field
  • 44% lack the people or soft skills to make networking worth their time
  • 51% of Gen Z feel especially underprepared in this area 

How Canada Networks Today

Today’s job seekers use a wide range of methods to build relationships, including:

  • In-person events ranging from conferences to meetups (83%)
  • Informal social settings from coffee chats to dinners (82%)
  • Online platforms like LinkedIn or Meetup (75%)
  • Cold outreach through email or social media (75%)
  • Virtual events and webinars (71%)
Illustration infographic showing Canadian networking statistics. Five circular charts display: “83% In-Person Events,” “82% Informal Social Settings,” “75% Online Platforms,” “75% Cold Outreach Through Email or Social Media,” and “71% Virtual Events or Webinars.” Below, an illustrated man in a shirt and tie gestures near a table with a laptop. An illustrated woman in a blouse and skirt looks at her phone. Logos and text at the bottom read: “CANADA EMPLOYED” and a source note describing the Job Seeker Report conducted by The Harris Poll for Express Employment Professionals.

Despite clear differences in how people network, the impact is undeniable. Job seekers who put effort into building connections see real results. Altogether, 60% report at least one positive outcome tied to the relationships they built.

Even though job seekers recognize the value of networking, many struggle with how to navigate it:

  • 66% do not know the best places or websites to network within their field.
  • 48% lack the people or soft skills to make networking worth their time. 

Gen Z feel the most underprepared, with 57% saying they lack the people skills to network effectively and 75% saying they are unsure of the best way to network.

“The data shows a workforce caught between intention and uncertainty,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International. “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. As the way we connect continues to evolve, workers need guidance that helps them turn those connections into real career opportunities.”

Read more about the latest employment insights in America Employed at ExpressPros.com and Canada Employed at ExpressPros.ca.

— Previous article

Travel Nursing Is the Ultimate Career Move for Adventure Seekers