Many self-employed people consider face-to-face networking the most effective way to create connections. Yet, as networking trends show, LinkedIn has become a valid alternative for those who feel more comfortable just with online interactions.
If you’re still skeptical about it, the following facts and stats might change your mind.
Top Networking Statistics: Editor’s Choice
- 85% of job positions have been filled through networking.
- Thanks to networking, nearly 31% of Americans got a job.
- 35% of people secured their jobs through professional connections.
- A whopping 60% of people got their jobs through networking.
- Face-to-face communication is crucial for 95% of professionals.
- Over 750 million people use LinkedIn.
- 38% of professionals think networking is most active in restaurants.
- More than 60% of people intend to increase digital communication.
Why Is Networking Important?
Nowadays, expanding your career possibilities is almost impossible without building solid connections. As the following statistics will show, a staggering number of companies use platforms like LinkedIn to connect and hire new talents.
1. Nearly 85% of jobs are filled through networking.
The latest facts on networking report that more than eight out of ten workers got hired thanks to networking.
Obviously, the more connections you have on a platform, the broader your network is. As a result, you are most likely to find a good position. So, that’s why it is important to be constantly active on professional networks, such as LinkedIn.
2. According to networking statistics, nearly 31% of Americans claimed they got a job due to networking.
A massive slice of 31% of US adults found their current job through networking or “knowing someone.” Only 11% of them used job-seeking platforms, and 23% answered “other” as their option.
The above facts speak about the importance of networking in job search and building one’s career. Not only does networking create job leads, but it also provides valuable information to the hiring companies.
3. Professional connections helped around 35% of the people secure their current job.
Building a vast and well-established network should be your top priority when seeking a job.
The latest networking statistics for finding jobs discovered that about 60% of Jobvite’s respondents revealed that they referred a friend, a family member, or a contact to their company. This staggering figure demonstrates that word-of-mouth and referrals are top alternatives for job seekers.
4. 60% of people got their job through networking.
While we have no data available about what percentage of jobs will be found through networking in 2021, the latest statistics indicate that networking is responsible for the employment of 60% of the new talents.
This suggests that a vast professional network will heighten your opportunity to get hired.
5. 72% of networkers feel both influenced by looks and handshakes.
The most notable networking trends claim that face-to-face communication is broadly preferred over other networking methods.
You only get one chance to make the first impression, so you might want to make the best of it. Keep in mind that people like to pay special attention to body language, facial expressions, and even business cards.
What Are The Benefits of Networking in Business?
It’s not a secret that face-to-face communication is the best way of getting more customers. However, handing business cards has become an outdated way of making connections. Take a look at the most relevant business networking statistics to find out what works best for your business.
6. 95% of professionals believe that face-to-face communication is crucial for a long-term business.
The majority of professionals value the importance of face-to-face meetings for various reasons. According to the business networking survey conducted by the Harvard Business Review, almost all professionals prefer this type of networking. They consider it essential to maintain long-term relationships with businesses.
Additionally, 77% of people prefer in-person communication because they can read each other’s body language. Furthermore, 75% agree that it leads to more social interaction with coworkers and customers.
7. Networking facts reveal that one in four people do not use the network at all.
Some professionals choose not to network, mainly due to a lack of confidence, time, or immediate results.
Although this number might not seem considerable, it still covers a massive section of people that resist networking.
8. Facts about the networking business show that 81% of planners will most likely hold an in-person meeting sometime in 2021.
After the coronavirus outbreak, many planners have already started holding meetings. However, 59% decided to plan in-person gatherings for the second half of 2021. A mere 19% will postpone these events until next year or even later.
Unfortunately, networking during COVID-19 was only possible through online platforms and applications such as Zoom and FaceTime. As many business owners value in-person interactions more than online ones, it’s not surprising that they would like to get back to hosting face-to-face meetings as soon as possible.
9. Entrepreneurs need to distribute 2,000 business cards for a 2.5% sales increase.
The fascinating networking facts imply that business cards have lost their efficiency and for a good reason.
Nowadays, people tend to be more interested in digital business cards rather than paper ones. On top of that, digital business cards are easy to create, save an enormous amount of money, and are environmentally friendly.
Social Networking Statistics and Facts
Using social media platforms is more than a valuable alternative to broaden your network if you’re not keen on face-to-face interactions. Let’s take a closer look at the most notable statistics.
10. LinkedIn counts over 750 million members.
As stated by LinkedIn network statistics, 756 million people from all over the world are LinkedIn members. In addition, about 40% of LinkedIn users are active every day, with more than 57 million registered companies.
These staggering numbers suggest that LinkedIn is currently the leading social media platform for building connections.
11. Facebook counts over 200 million companies using its tools.
These networking statistics suggest that Facebook Page is one of the most used tools by businesses. They can publish and share their business data and a short description of products and services offered. This way, brands can increase their online presence, connect existing customers, and attract new ones.
12. 70% of marketers use Facebook ads.
In the third quarter of 2020, social networking advertising statistics reported that Facebook had 10 million active advertisers—a much higher figure than the previous year.
As Facebook is the most used social media, it is not surprising that ads generate the largest revenue. Compared to $1.04 billion coming from other incomes, ad revenue alone reached over $ 69.6 billion.
13. The latest professional networking statistics revealed that over 35% of LinkedIn users have been engaged in casual conversations that led to job opportunities.
A quarter of professionals have established relevant business deals and partnerships through the messaging feature on LinkedIn. What’s more, about 63% of global professionals believe that online interactions can create more job opportunities.
Current Networking Statistics and Trends
After the pieces of general knowledge about the importance of networking, more precisely business and social networking, we will see where those connections can be made, and the impact of the COVID-19 on this industry.
Now, let’s take a look at these remarkable facts and stats on networking.
14. According to 38% of professionals, bars and restaurants are the most active networking sites.
What are the favorite networking locations for small business owners? Bars and restaurants are the top locations for making connections. Gyms are a close second with 23%, and airplanes take the third position with 17%.
These captivating business networking statistics demonstrate that people at social events can also make the most valuable connections. Here are the most common ones:
- Private clubs
- TEDx events
- Festivals
- Sports events
- Library events
- Conferences
- University events
15. Over 70% of scientists say that conferences should stay virtual after the pandemic.
Just like everyone else, scientists feel exhausted from attending conferences on Zoom. Yet, networking conference statistics state that a staggering 74% of researchers agree that science meetings should continue online even after the pandemic ends. The advantage is that people from all over the world can join scheduled Zoom meetings.
On the other hand, scientists acknowledge that virtual meetings lack valuable networking opportunities.
16. As claimed by virtual networking statistics, over 60% of people will rely more on digital communication in the future.
A survey conducted by Deloitte in 2021 reported that 63% of the respondents would use digital communication more. A third of them believe that online conversations helped them build valuable connections.
Although face-to-face communication has proved more effective, networking facts show that a rising number of people prefer online interactions over physical events.
17. 78% of college graduates used networking to find a job.
As most people find their jobs through networking, this figure shouldn’t come as a shock.
College students have many job opportunities after graduation, yet they fail to prepare their networking profiles. College networking statistics confirm that most students start developing their networks only after they finish college.
18. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, over 50% of people of color did not participate in networking events.
In the second half of 2020, the Harvard Business Review surveyed about 300 people of color. The networking trends implied that over half of the respondents were too busy to participate in social events.
In addition to that, 30% did not attend because of work issues, and 17% wanted to focus more on work.
19. In 2021, around 65% of people booked networking events.
Because of last year’s global lockdown, planning networking events during COVID-19 wasn’t possible.
However, many businesses started reserving locations for physical events, and more than 60% of professionals booked their venues for 2021. Only 25% of them said they had nothing booked for the year yet.
20. HR experts anticipated that in-person meetings would resume by the end of 2021.
In May 2020, Chief Human Resources Officers (CHRO) carried out a business networking survey on how long in-person events will be restricted.
Nearly 19% of American and Canadian respondents claimed that it would take more than 12 months before getting back to physical events. On the other hand, about 29% believe it would take between six and 12 months.
The Benefits of Networking: The Takeaway
Over the past two years, the coronavirus outbreak has forced many people to turn to online networking. But did it take over face-to-face networking? The answer is negative and for a simple reason. The use of technology can’t replace the perks coming from face-to-face interactions.
These networking statistics brought forward how in-person meetings and events are still the best way to secure customers, find new employees, and advance careers.
However, the future of virtual networking is not so dark—quite the opposite. The number of remote workers that are networking from anywhere in the world is rising.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of jobs come from networking?
When it comes to job seeking, networking plays a vital role. People can make new connections and get a higher chance of getting hired. Here’s why.
Between 70% and 80% of jobs won’t be posted anywhere, so building a robust network makes it much easier to reach the so-called “hidden job market.”
Many professionals argue that about 80% of all jobs can be found through networking. Joining networking platforms such as LinkedIn or specific groups can help you create powerful connections.
How effective is networking?
Networking helps you look for jobs before they get advertised. In most cases, these jobs are not even open to apply. So, it’s crucial to approach companies directly on networking platforms to enhance the possibility of getting the job.
Whether you’re looking for a new job, returning to work after a break, or jumping at a new career opportunity, building a vast and robust network is your best shot.
What is networking in business?
We can define networking in business as a process of establishing a profitable relationship with potential new partners, business owners, and possible clients.
The benefits of this strategy primarily involve face-to-face communication through meetings or social events where you discuss your products and services. What’s more, it can help you boost sales and build brand awareness.
Can you get a job without networking?
The saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” is partially true. While having valuable connections and referrals can open many doors to your career, you’re not entirely hopeless if you don’t know anyone.
Although it might be more challenging, getting an excellent job without networking is possible. However, it is recommended to research, be active on networking platforms such as LinkedIn, and create meaningful connections.
When should you start networking?
The best time to start networking should be before graduating from college. Networking allows you to reach out to companies, potential employers, or clients and directly access their information. This way, you have the probability of succeeding early in your career.
Although many people still feel skeptical about it, the most notable networking statistics claim that there’s no more efficient strategy than networking. Whether you’re a job seeker or a business, having solid network connections is the first step to advancing your career opportunities.
Sources
Apollo Technical, Business Travel News, Credit Donkey, Deloitte, Facebook, Fit Small Business, Great Business Schools, Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, Jobvite, LinkedIn, LinkedIn, Meetings Net, Nature, Northstar Meetings Group, Statista, Team Referral Network, The Ladders, Top Resume