It’s “Who you know” say 72% of professionals about career success

A new Ladders survey out today shows that 72% of high-earning professionals say who you know gets you ahead in your career. 70% network offline and 57% now actively network online — underscoring the growing popularity of online career advancement.

New York, NY, January 29, 2020 — Ladders Research shows 72% of professionals say connections matter most for getting ahead in one’s career. While offline networking is still more popular – 70% of respondents say they do so actively – a majority of professionals now also use online resources to network and get the “who you know” method working for them.

71% of respondents said they learn about career planning by reading articles online, which supports the growing notion that online education options are overtaking traditional methods. 62% of respondents answered that networking with others in their field is the best way to get ahead, with only 53% saying that doing a great job for their current employer is the better option.

92% of respondents indicated that career success was a priority for them in their lives, with 79% taking active steps to move ahead. 73% of respondents use online tools and resources to advance their careers, with offline options just behind at 68%.

41% said they interview for jobs even when not actively looking for a new job; a strong indicator that the pro-active use of easy-to-use online resources is increasingly common.

Further results:

“The best way to get ahead in my career is to:”

Know the right people	72%
Network with others in my field	62%
Do a very good job for my current employer	53%
Find a new, higher paying job	44%
Get lucky	34%
Other	4%

“I do other work to augment my income, which is:”

I do not do other work to augment my income	34%
Consulting work	25%
Other	20%
Part-time work	19%
Free-lance work	16%
Advisory work	14%

“I interview for jobs even when not actively looking:”

Strongly agree	14%
Agree	27%
Neutral	26%
Disagree	11%
Strongly disagree	22%

“Career success is a priority for me:”

Strongly agree	58%
Agree	34%
Neutral	7%
Disagree	1%
Strongly disagree	0%

“I often think about getting ahead in my career:”

Strongly agree	43%
Agree	39%
Neutral	14%
Disagree	3%
Strongly disagree	1%

“I take active steps to get ahead in my career:”

Strongly agree	39%
Agree	40%
Neutral	19%
Disagree	2%
Strongly disagree	0%

“I use online tools and sites to help me get ahead in my career:”

Strongly agree	31%
Agree	42%
Neutral	23%
Disagree	3%
Strongly disagree	1%

“I use offline tools and resources to help me get ahead in my career:”

Strongly agree	24%
Agree	44%
Neutral	22%
Disagree	8%
Strongly disagree	2%

“I improve my chances of career advancement by:”

Networking with professionals offline	70%
Reading industry related news	66%
Interviewing for new opportunities	61%
Reading news related to my job function	58%
Networking with professionals online	57%
Completing professional courses/training	53%
Attending trade shows and conferences	32%
Asking for referrals	31%
Other	1%

“I learn about career planning by:”

Reading articles online	71%
Reading LinkedIn	67%
Talking with friends and co-workers	59%
Reading Ladders News	43%
Google searches	36%
Reading books	33%
Reading WSJ, Fortune, or Businessweek	27%
Listening to podcasts	17%
Watching videos on YouTube	8%
Following Twitter accounts	5%
Other	2%

Contact: pr@theladders.com

Methodology:

This research study was conducted October 20th to October 27th, 2019 by Ladders Inc., among the members of the Ladders professional community. 1,233 responses were recorded. Gender distribution was 75% male, 25% female. Average annual compensation of respondents was $148,000.

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It’s “Who you know” say 72% of professionals about career success