During my post-graduation job search, the No. 1 piece of advice I was given (something I’m sure is all too familiar for others, too) was: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” In other words, your relationships play a significant role in what doors open for you — sometimes even more than what your degree and resume do. 

That’s where networking comes in. Colleges, workplaces, and even digital communities know it too; it’s why there’s no shortage of invitations to professional development sessions, coffee chats, and social mixers online. But if you’ve ever stared at a promotional flyer for a career fair and backed out of showing up because you didn’t feel prepared, you’re not alone. 

“Our research found that nearly two-thirds of Gen Z (64%) say no one has ever really shown them how to build professional relationships, and more than half aren’t sure where to start,” LinkedIn News senior editor Gianna Prudente tells Her Campus.

Knowing that a lot of younger adults feel little (to zero) confidence when it comes to networking intentionally, here’s what Prudente advises young professionals to do if they’re trying to develop their skills and put the right foot forward.

Start small, and work your way up.

Networking can seem like a huge undertaking: You have to identify who you want to connect with, draft up your cold emails, practice your elevator pitch — the list goes on. But while diligently preparing and setting high expectations for yourself is admirable, it’s not entirely necessary when you’re beginning your journey into networking. 

“I think the easiest way to get started is to set really small goals for yourself,” Prudente says. “Networking doesn’t have to mean attending a big event or reaching out to someone you’ve never met. It can start with things you’re probably already doing online.”

Some easy ways to get started, per Prudente: Find people on LinkedIn whose interests or work align with yours. Engage with their posts through an intentional comment or question, and use that to incrementally deepen your connection with them, instead of diving headfirst into one-on-one conversations. She also recommends using LinkedIn games as a more enjoyable and low-stakes way to get to know others. 

Don’t underestimate your existing network.

Remember when you researched your professor before you signed up for their class, or exchanged LinkedIn information with your friends to help each other build up your online presence? If so, congrats — you already have a network! 

Prudente says starting with people you already know, be it former classmates, coworkers, or professors, can be incredibly helpful in building comfort with networking. “Sometimes we think networking means meeting completely new people,” she says. “But there’s a lot of value in strengthening the relationships you already have.” She also recommends using the Catch Up feature on LinkedIn, which consolidates both personal and professional milestone announcements from people in your network on LinkedIn to reconnect with people more easily. 

Don’t overthink your outreach.

Prudente notes that while Gen Z is used to connecting with others virtually, the stress of coming up with the right message or impression can deter people from following through with their outreach. In fact, LinkedIn’s research identified that 37% of Gen Z users are concerned that they might be judged, while 34% are concerned with sounding authentic in their messaging. 

At the same time, its research also found that 83% of millennial and Gen X users would be willing to help early-career applicants, regardless of whether they know them — a statistic that Prudente said should help reduce the pressure. 

“Most people aren’t analyzing your message nearly as much as you are,” she says. “You don’t need to sound overly polished or have the perfect thing to say. Being genuine and showing curiosity will get you a lot further than trying to sound impressive.”

Build upon your progress.

Prudente recommends gradually ramping up your LinkedIn networking strategy, rather than just diving in headfirst. “For example, one week you could follow a few people working in an industry you’re interested in,” she says. “The next week, challenge yourself to comment on a couple of their posts. Then maybe reach out to a former classmate or colleague to see how they’re doing. Eventually, you can work up to introducing yourself to someone new and asking them a question about their career.”

Redefine your meaning of success.

While you might think the end goal of your networking efforts is a job offer, that isn’t necessarily the case. Prudente says the intention behind networking is to build relationships, which may take time, but can pay off in the long run.

“Every interaction doesn’t need to lead to something immediately,” she says. “Sometimes, just having a good conversation is a win.”

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