If you had to stop and think about that one person at work who’s always there for you, helping, laughing, venting and making your day a better place – it’s likely your #WorkBFF.
And with the average person spending 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, it may not be surprising that 95% of professionals agree that it’s good to be friends with your coworkers. But what you might not realize is that your #WorkBFF is more than a daily sounding board. Work friendships are actually a great catalyst for career opportunities down the road. So whether you are looking to hone a new skill set or get that promotion, investing in friendships at work can be a valuable resource and support system to help you achieve your goals.
So to celebrate you and your #WorkBFF, we've rounded a up a few tips on how to make your career better with friends.
Friends can open doors to the job you want. Over 70% of professionals get hired at a company where they have a professional connection and you never know where your #WorkBFF might end up. In fact, over 60% of professionals agree that your friends at work right now will be helpful to you later in your career - either by sharing a job opportunity or providing a referral. So next time you find a job opportunity, tap into people you know for that all-important referral and make sure you are willing to return the favor. If you’re not sure you know anyone who can give you a referral, check LinkedIn to see if you have a 2nd degree connection (someone who is connected to one of your connections) to the company you want to work and ask for an introduction.
They make growing a professional network easy. If you’re one of the 26% of professionals looking for more time to build relationships, the good news is you’re already doing it with your professional community at work. Make it a point to check in with your colleagues every day by offering help or discussing the headlines of the day. You can also connect with your broader professional network by sharing trending news or joining a LinkedIn Group on shared interests. Make sure you are also looking for ways to reach beyond your network and help others who haven’t been afforded the same opportunities. Be intentional and take part in LinkedIn’s #PlusOnePledge to help someone outside your immediate network.
Friends make the work more enjoyable. Camaraderie is the biggest benefit of having workplace friendships, says most professionals (75%). We all feel better about tackling a heavy workload knowing we are #InItTogether with the people around us. It’s reassuring to have a ready-made sounding board to help solve work-related issues. Plus, 65% of professionals say work friendships encourage us to learn from one another and can make things easier when challenges arise (55%).
Investing in community — for yourself and for others — is an investment in the future. You don’t know what doors a #WorkBFF can open for you down the road, or what doors you might be able to open for someone else. Join the conversation by tagging your #WorkBFF on LinkedIn to thank them for their support.
Methodology
The survey was conducted online for LinkedIn by Censuswide from December 18-21, 2018, among more than 2,150 working professionals, ages 18-74, across the U.S.
Topics: Advance your career LinkedIn product
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