The Importance of Networking With “Weak Ties”

By Megan Weyrauch on July 19, 2013

All of us belong in social networks. We share relationships and connections with many people and these people link us to other people who link us to others, and so on. This week in my public opinion class, I learned some important information that I am now going to share with you.

There are two types of people, called ties, based on the strength of the connection between two people. Strong ties are those people that you have an emotional investment with. You spend a large amount of time with this person, and there is a type of intimacy between the two of you. Rather than a one-sided relationship, a relationship with a strong tie includes reciprocity. Your relationship with this person can be formal or informal. For example, consider both your best friend and your boss as strong ties.

Weak ties in contrast are those people that you know only a little. Someone you went out on a date with once or someone you worked with on a group project could be weak ties. Do not let the word weak throw you off, however; weak ties prove very important in job searching.

Networking is a huge factor in job searching, and while it is very valuable to network with the people you are closest to—your strong ties—it is even more important to network with your weak ties. Why is this? Because your strong ties are very likely to have a similar social network to you, and by utilizing only these people, you are shorting yourself on valuable resources. Weak ties have their own networks that are separate from yours, and thus these ties can provide you with more options and leads when it comes to job searching.

I have a personal example of this. I edit resumes during the school year for one of my volunteer positions. I learned about Uloop through one girl that came in with Uloop on her resume. When I read her description about Uloop, my curiosity was piqued and I wanted to learn more. Though I was supposed to be helping this girl, she in turn helped me by giving me her email and letting me know I could contact her for more information. This girl was a weak tie because she and I only met and talked the one time. However, she proved valuable to me because she helped me to land my journalism internship.

The moral of the story: don’t count anyone out. Network with every person that you can, whether or not you think they will be valuable, because you never know who could help you to land your dream internship or job. Do not discount your weak ties, as they will surprise you.

Now, get networking!

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