Networking for young people: your quiet career advantage

CREATED BY DAVE CORDLE Published: 30/04/2026 @ 09:01AM #NetworkingForYoungPeople #CareerDevelopment #Visibility #Curiosity #Usefulness #StartSmall

Networking for young people is not about being pushy; it's about being visible, curious and useful. The people you meet now can shape your career development later. And the best bit? You can start small, right where you are ...

Discover the power of networking for young people and how it can give you a quiet career advantage

When young people hear about networking, it can sound like something for older people in suits at big industry events, but it starts much earlier than that. If you are in sixth form, college, an apprenticeship, at university or doing a T Level, you are already in the right place to begin.

The idea is simple: the more people who know you, the more
likely it is that opportunities will come your way later!

The smartest thing you can do is treat networking as part of your career development, not a separate task. You do not need to 'sell yourself' in an awkward way. You just need to talk to people, ask thoughtful questions, and stay in touch with those who seem interested in helping.

A conversation with a parent's colleague, a family friend, a tutor, a career professional or someone you meet at an event can become one of your most valuable professional connections.

There is also solid evidence that relationships matter in hiring. Recent UK data suggests that up to 40% of jobs are filled through networking. Some career professionals would argue that this figure is somewhat low.

Different studies use different methods, but the message is consistent: young professionals who build networks early tend to spot more opportunities and hear about roles before they are widely advertised. That gives you an advantage long before you are formally job hunting.

You also need to remember that networking is not
only about getting your first job!

It helps you understand what different careers actually involve, which skills employers value and how organisations really work. That is useful when you are making decisions about courses, apprenticeships or your first role, and it remains useful once you are employed. A good network gives you market awareness, practical advice and people you can turn to when you need perspective.

It is worth thinking beyond online platforms too. Yes, LinkedIn can be useful, but real networking often happens in ordinary moments. A chat by the coffee machine, a question after a talk, an introduction at a conference or a quick conversation with someone in another team can all build trust over time.

Some of the best youth networking tips are surprisingly simple: be interested, be reliable, be relatable, and follow up when someone helps you.

Most importantly, networking should never feel like a one-way street. You are not just there to ask for favours. You also have value to offer, whether that is sharing useful information, making an introduction or recommending someone else when it makes sense. The strongest networks are built by people who generously connect others, because that is how trust grows.

If you keep that in mind, networking for young people becomes less about awkward self-promotion and more about building a career with intention.

Start now, and be the kind of person someone remembers for the right reasons.

Until next time ...

DAVE CORDLE
Career Development Professional

07941 690 391

www.davecordle.co.uk / www.linkedin.com/in/davecordle

Everything you need for your career:  www.davecordle.co.uk/basecamp

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About Dave Cordle ...
I began my professional life training as a cartographer with the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, a department of the British government. I made maps of places such as Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Sudan and the British Virgin Islands. It was a fascinating time, being involved in planning the flights for aerial photography, interpreting the photographs and eventually producing the plates for the different layers of the final map. It was during my latter years as a cartographer and my career in computing that I undertook bigger mountaineering expeditions to the Andes, the Himalayas, the Tien Shan and the Caucasus. At that time I also held various leadership roles in scouting. I coached and trained young people successfully leading them to develop themselves and embrace new experiences. So that’s where my passion comes from to help young people learn the strategies for success that I share with my business and career clients. My journey in personal professional development and coaching has been amazing, and will continue to be so: it’s why I’m here, it’s my big passion. It’s what has informed my vision and mission. However unlikely your dream might seem, if you keep taking steps towards it, even small steps, you may well just surprise yourself.

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