Why your closest friends probably won’t help you find a job

September 18, 2026 — 5:00am

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Where is your next job going to come from? Many people would assume it would be via someone who knows you very well, but the surprising reality is that your next career move will probably emerge from the very edge of your orbit.

All our relationships can be placed in one of two buckets. The first are people we have “strong ties” with and catch up with frequently. Think close friendships, family and colleagues that you really bond with. These are the people we can emotionally confide in.

The other type are casual, low-contact connections we speak to only occasionally. Known as “weak ties”, this can include acquaintances, people we met once at a conference, former colleagues we haven’t spoken to in years and friends of friends.

The majority of our energy is focused on our strongest relationships, but our weak ties are deceptively important. The main reason is that they move in different social circles, acting like........

© The Sydney Morning Herald