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3 networking myths that are holding you back in your career
You are looking for a new job. You need to build connections, so the first thing they say is, “Make a list,” right? Wrong.
If you’re starting to network now, you’re like someone trying to get insurance after an accident has already happened. It’s already too late. Networking isn’t just for job seekers in crisis. This is an essential career tool that you should always pay attention to, even when everything seems to be going well. In fact, that’s exactly the time you should be focusing on it.
However, many professionals make the mistake of ignoring their network until they find themselves in a pinch. They think it’s something they do only when necessary. By the time you send out a ton of requests for referrals and advice, you’ve lost valuable time and often lost credibility. Let’s bust the three most common misconceptions about networking that are holding you back in your career.
Myth 1: Networking is only for job hunting.
Most people think that networking is something you should only rely on during your job search. However, this reactive approach can be harmful in the long run. Effective networking is proactive. The strongest professional networks are built when you don’t need immediate help, giving you time and space to develop real, long-lasting relationships.
Learning how to network while your career is stable will make your conversations more authentic. It can feel like a transaction because you’re not asking for a favor or trying to “sell” yourself. Instead, learn from others, share ideas, and offer your own insights. This builds friendships and ensures that your network is ready to support you when you need help, whether it’s finding a new opportunity, getting through a layoff, or pivoting your career.
Keith Ferrazzi emphasizes this concept in Never Eat Alone, emphasizing that successful networking is first built on providing value. In a recent LinkedIn post, Ferrazzi explained that networking for a specific purpose, like finding a job, can feel cold and impersonal. He contrasts this with true connection, which he defines as the sharing of knowledge and resources, time and energy, friends and associates, and empathy and compassion. With this approach, networking is less about transactions and more about building meaningful relationships.
But that’s not the only reason you need a network. It will help you succeed in your current job before finding a new one. This brings us to the second misconception.
Myth 2: The immediate work circle is enough.
It’s easy to think that the people you interact with every day, such as colleagues, customers, and business partners, form a strong enough network. Your “work network” is important to getting your job done, but it doesn’t expose you to new ideas, opportunities, and industry changes that a broader, more strategic network can provide.
Herminia Ibarra emphasizes the distinction between operational and strategic networks in her article, “How Leaders Create and Use Networks,” published in Harvard Business Review. While operational networks help you accomplish day-to-day tasks, it’s your strategic networks — the connections you make across roles, industries, and geographies — that bring new opportunities and provide a broader perspective. Ybarra emphasizes the importance of networking outside of your usual circle as a key step in reinventing your career.
If you only talk to the same people you rely on to get your day-to-day work done, you’re limiting your perspective and, in turn, your potential. To succeed, you need to expand your circle to include people who challenge your thinking, offer new insights, and open doors to opportunities you didn’t even know existed. Strategic networking connects you with individuals from different industries, roles, and locations, providing fresh perspectives and helping you stay ahead of trends. These diverse connections are far more likely to support your career growth and innovation.
By now you’re probably thinking: Who has time to meet new people outside of their daily lives when they’re actually working and not looking for a job? This leads to the third misconception.
Myth 3: Networking has to be formal
Many people believe that networking requires formal events, carefully planned meetings, or some level of calculated strategy. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Some of the best connections are forged through informal conversations, such as casual lunches, during common industry events, or even online interactions that start out of mutual interest. In fact, networking is most effective when it’s organic and based on genuine curiosity. Informal, genuine connections like this are much more likely to develop into lasting working relationships than ones that feel forced.
For some people, meeting and talking to new people is as easy as breathing. For others, it’s unthinkable. If you’re someone who prefers a computer screen to talking to strangers at a conference, the key is to make sure you have an organic path to meeting your strategic network. In practice, this means building opportunities into your calendar.
I once met a young professional who told me about his “Tuesday Lunch” practice. Instead of having lunch with his team as usual, he decided to have lunch with a different person every Tuesday. Whether it’s someone from another department, someone you haven’t seen in a while, or someone you’re working on. He wanted to know more. This habit helped him build a wide and diverse network.
Other ways to make sure you interact with people outside of your day-to-day work circle include joining nonprofits and industry associations, and reaching out to the people you follow online and having real conversations with them. Contains. My personal favorite is to dedicate two weekly meetings to people without a specific agenda. This practice built my strategic network and provided me with knowledge, ideas, and connections that I would never have had in my formal trading network.
Bottom line: Networking is a long-term investment
Networking is not a one-time endeavor, nor is it a quick fix when looking for a job. It’s an ongoing investment in your career that pays off long before it’s time to look for new opportunities, navigate industry changes, or pursue new ventures. Networking opens the door to new knowledge and ideas, brings you information you didn’t know you needed, and helps you act on insights you wouldn’t otherwise have.
When job hunting time comes, your network already knows about you. You will be building relationships that are beneficial to you and connecting with new people and opportunities. The most successful professionals don’t wait until they need help. You are already connected to people who can help.
If you’re not actively building and nurturing your network now, you’re missing out on an important part of career management. Get started today. Your future self will thank you for it.
