If you want to advance your career, you’ll need to build a strong network. The statistics make the case: 54% of people report getting their job through a connection, according to a 2025 survey by MyPerfectResume. Despite this, just 10% of people reach out to contacts during their job search.

This is why networking in the first place can set you apart in today’s tough job market. Use these strategies to network successfully and creatively.

First, reclaim your courage. About 34% of people avoid networking because they lack confidence, the MyPerfectResume survey finds. Remind yourself about everything you bring to the job market and know that we all need assistance sometimes.

Second, be expansive in what you ask for. Seek advice, inquire about job openings, request introductions to hiring managers or ask for referrals.

Third, get creative. Host a small gathering over dinner or start a quarterly learning group. Invite people with different backgrounds and ask each to come with a conversation starter. When you connect other people, you build their networks as well as your own.

Fourth, volunteer. You’ll get to know people, build your skills, and can even make more money in the long run, according to studies by Human Resource Management Review and the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Networking can........

© Forbes