How expanding your network can help close the network gap

At LinkedIn, we know that networks are powerful. However, not everyone has access to the network they need, to get the job they want. When used with intention, networks are incredible tools that can help get jobs, increase career mobility, and unlock economic opportunity across racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines. And growing your network with people who are different from yourself leads to greater access to career advancement, growth, and learning for everyone.

When we announced an initiative to close the network gap two years ago, we couldn’t begin to imagine how much more relevant it would be today. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed stark inequalities in our society, disproportionately impacting communities that were already facing barriers. In this new economic environment, networks have become even more important as people look for work. For some people, the lack of access to a strong one is now an even larger barrier to accessing opportunities .

So how can we be more intentional about closing the network gap? First, we need to understand that it’s a systemic issue rooted in inequality and implicit bias, and that it’s not the responsibility of the individual to solve. It’s us - the builders and policymakers of the world - who need to think boldly. That’s why, as a company, we are putting equity at the forefront and working to make sure that our products and features aren’t reinforcing social inequalities like the network gap and other advantages people have based on social or economic status.

It’s also why we are constantly working to understand the nuances of the problem. We recently looked at the relationship between a professional network and career mobility (how quickly someone moves into their next job) to see if there were any connections. What we saw was interesting. Comparing people with similar demographics, educational backgrounds and professional experience, we found that:

• Members with at least 13 connections from companies other than their current employer, are 22.9% faster in transitioning to their next job than those who do not.
• Members who are a part of at least 1 group on LinkedIn are 8.6% faster in transitioning to their next job than those who are not a member of any groups.
• Members who follow at least 5 organizations on LinkedIn are 7.1% faster in transitioning to their next job than those who do not.

These new insights underscore the importance of establishing more diverse networks to help increase career mobility. They also point to specific actions that in the interim, we as individuals, can take to expand our professional networks. 

Refresh your connections list and look for people you know at other companies. 

Reconnect with old colleagues or friends, or look at the “People You May Know” feature for an easy way to find and connect with people who went to the same school as you, who work in similar roles or industries and are based in the same city. Networking can be challenging in a virtual world, so check out some tips on how else to make it easier.

Engage with and learn from like-minded professionals with LinkedIn Groups. 

Groups are a great way to expand your network by connecting with school classmates, company colleagues, alumni, or professionals who share common interests. Check out some of the groups on LinkedIn, find a topic that interests you and join the conversation.

Follow a few favorite companies or organizations.

More than 57 million companies have a Page on LinkedIn. Follow your dream employers. Or, follow some of the 2021 LinkedIn Top Companies, the 50 best workplaces to grow your career. Once you’ve done that, let people know you’re #OpenToWork on your LinkedIn Profile. Since launching the #OpenToWork photo frame last year, we have seen that members using it are, on average, 40% more likely to receive InMails from recruiters, and 20% more likely to receive messages from the LinkedIn community.

It’s important to know that these are all just starting points. Closing the network gap isn’t going to happen immediately, and it’s going to take more than groups and new connections to accomplish. But taking small, intentional steps forward together will get us closer to more equitable outcomes for everyone.