Something I have been told the whole time I’ve been at college is that networking is the way to go. For like everything. How did you get that job? “Oh, I got recommended it from my bosses friend”. How did you transfer from one to the next? “Oh, I got help from my former co-worker’s buddy”. Real stuff I’ve heard. And in design, it can be difficult to get your foot in the door.

So, it got me thinking. Just how successful is networking? Like for the talk, some part must make it successful than classic methods like hard work or just submitting to everywhere. So that’s what I want to figure out today. Just how successful is networking the current job market?

How Bad is The Design Job Market?

Why People Use Networking

Well, there’s a couple why networking is a big contender for finding jobs. For starters, you can meet people who already work in jobs you like. They can give you advice and tell you what those jobs are really like. Another benefit is that when some jobs are not even posted online. If you know the right people, you might hear about these chances first before people ever know.

Networking also helps you build confidence. The more you talk to new people, the easier it gets to share your ideas and skills. It can even benefit in the long run, allowing to prepare for interviews more easily and understand others who may need help too.

The Findings

So what did I find? Well, networking is actually proven to be super successful. Don’t believe me? Here’s what I find in 3 different areas

1. College Students

2. Designers

3. Overall People