Why Indian Gen Z professionals struggle to build career networks
Fear of judgment and concerns about bothering others are preventing many Indian Gen Z professionals from building career networks, a LinkedIn report said. While 83 per cent hesitate to network, most Millennials and Gen X professionals said they were willing to help
Mumbai: Fear of being judged holds back a majority of Gen Z professionals from connecting or networking with people who could help them advance their careers, a report said on Wednesday.
India’s Gen Z professionals have grown up constantly connected online, but 83 per cent hesitate to interact or network with people who could help them in their careers, according to a report by LinkedIn.
Fear of being judged (44 per cent), concerns about bothering others (39 per cent), and worries about sounding inauthentic (37 per cent) are preventing Gen Z professionals from seeking valuable advice, making connections and accessing new opportunities, the report added.
The LinkedIn report is based on a survey conducted by Censuswide among 18,050 full-time and part-time workers aged 18 to 80 between July 20 and August 11, 2026, across countries including India, the UK, the US, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, the UAE and KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
The report revealed that even as 79 per cent of Indian Gen Z professionals understand that professional relationships are important, more than half (52 per cent) are unsure how to get started, while 53 per cent struggle to turn contacts into meaningful connections and worry about the cost.
LinkedIn data showed that Indian job applicants with an inside connection were nearly 8.5 times more likely to get hired than those without one.
However, almost three in five Gen Z professionals (59 per cent) said no one had clearly shown them how to build professional relationships. Many had received limited guidance or had to figure it out themselves, making it harder to know whom to approach, when to reach out and what to say, the report stated.
While many worry about getting in touch, a majority of Millennials (92 per cent) and Gen X professionals (95 per cent) said they would help someone at the start of their career, even if they did not know them.
“As jobs evolve and career paths become less linear, the ability to build meaningful relationships is becoming just as important as building skills.
“The good news is that networking doesn’t have to mean cold outreach or awkward introductions. Over time, small interactions build trust, expand your circle and can lead to opportunities, insights and support when you need it most,” LinkedIn Career Expert and India Senior Managing Editor Nirajita Banerjee said.
