New Delhi, India, September 2 (ANI): As many as 83 percent of Gen Z professionals in India are hesitant to network despite recognizing the importance of professional relationships, potentially missing out on a hiring advantage, with LinkedIn data showing that job applicants with an inside connection are nearly 8.5 times more likely to get hired than those without one.
According to a press release by LinkedIn, 79 percent of India’s Gen Z professionals understand the importance of professional relationships, but 52 percent do not know how to start building them, while 53 percent struggle to turn contacts into meaningful connections.
The professional networking platform said fear of being judged was the biggest barrier, cited by 44 percent of Gen Z respondents. Another 39 percent said they were worried about bothering people, while 37 percent feared sounding inauthentic.
The findings assume significance as AI changes how people work and search and apply for jobs, while professional relationships continue to play a role in accessing opportunities.
LinkedIn said nearly one-third, or 30 percent, of Gen Z respondents in India had found their next role through their professional communities online.
However, 59 percent said nobody had clearly shown them how to build professional relationships, leaving many to figure out on their own how to approach people, when to reach out and what to say.
The research also points to a gap between how willing experienced professionals are to help and how willing young professionals are to seek that support. While Gen Z professionals often worry about reaching out, 92 percent of Millennials and 95 percent of Gen X professionals said they would offer advice and support to someone at the start of their career, even if they did not know them.
LinkedIn Career Expert and India Senior Managing Editor Nirajita Banerjee said building meaningful relationships is becoming increasingly important as jobs evolve and career paths become less linear.
“Networking doesn’t have to mean cold outreach or awkward introductions,” Banerjee said, adding that engaging with content, sharing perspectives and reconnecting with existing contacts can help build relationships over time.
LinkedIn data also showed that members are almost three times more likely to receive a connection request and nearly five times more likely to receive a message if they have interacted with a post from one of their connections.
The company advised young professionals to start with people with whom they share common interests, engage with content before seeking connections and build relationships before they need them.
The research was conducted by Censuswide in July and August 2026 among 18,050 full-time and part-time professionals ages 18-80 across 12 markets, including India. (ANI)
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