By Catherine Fisher, VP and Career Expert

If you're Gen Z and want to build a stronger professional network, start small. Find people you're curious about, follow what they're doing, join the conversation and reach out when there's a natural opening. AI-powered people search, Catch Up and Grow in My Network can help you figure out who to connect with and when. Then use the 3-2-1 approach to keep at it each week.

Key Takeaways

• 53% of Gen Z professionals say they don't know how to get started with networking.
• Start with people you know: Former classmates, professors, coworkers, internship contacts and acquaintances can all be part of your professional network.
• Join the conversation: LinkedIn members who interact with their network's posts are nearly three times as likely to receive connection requests and almost five times as likely to receive a message.
• Follow vs. connect?: Follow when you're interested in what someone has to say. Connect when there's a natural reason to introduce yourself or stay in touch.
• Have a reason to reach out: A new job, promotion, shared interest or something you recently discussed can give you a natural opening.
• Try the 3-2-1 approach: Each week, leave three comments, send two messages and have one conversation.

How can you use LinkedIn to build your professional network?

More than half of Gen Z professionals, 53%, say they don't know how to get started with networking. Nearly 4 in 10 also worry about bothering people or being judged when they reach out. LinkedIn offers several ways to start smaller: find people relevant to your career interests, follow their work, join conversations and use professional milestones as natural reasons to reconnect.

How can you find the right people to add to your professional network?

Start with people already connected to your professional life, including former classmates, professors, internship contacts, managers, coworkers and people you've met through professional events or volunteering. Acquaintances can also connect you to people and opportunities outside your immediate circle.

LinkedIn can help expand that search. AI-powered people search can help members find professionals whose experience aligns with what they want to learn, from breaking into a new industry to building a skill or exploring a career change.

The Grow tab in My Network can also help members discover professionals based on shared interests, experiences and connections, creating opportunities to expand their network beyond people they already know.

Following someone can be a useful first step. It allows members to learn more about what a person is working on and see what they're sharing before deciding when it makes sense to join the conversation or connect.

How can you start a conversation with someone on LinkedIn?

Engaging with a post is one of the simplest places to start. Leave a thoughtful comment on something that interests you, congratulate someone on a new role, ask a question or add relevant experience from your own work.

A comment can be simple: "I'm just starting to learn about this. Is there anything you wish you knew when you were getting started?" Or: "This came up in one of my classes recently. Really interesting to see how it's playing out in the real world."

These interactions can create opportunities for more conversation. LinkedIn members who interact with their network's posts are nearly three times as likely to receive connection requests and almost five times as likely to receive a message.

How can LinkedIn help you decide when to reach out?

Professional milestones give members a natural reason to reconnect. A new job, promotion or work anniversary can open the door to a message such as, "Saw you started a new role. Congratulations! How are you liking it?"

The Catch Up tab in My Network helps surface these moments, making it easier to identify people in your network who may be worth reconnecting with.

Other openings can come from the relationship itself. An article related to a previous conversation can prompt a quick "This made me think of our conversation about AI." A former colleague you haven't spoken with recently might get a simple, "It's been way too long. I'd love to hear what you've been up to."

This is where a lot of people get stuck. Nearly 4 in 10 Gen Z professionals worry about bothering people or being judged when they try to network. Yet 83% of millennials and Gen Xers say they're likely to help someone looking for advice or support, including someone they've never met. People may be more open to hearing from you than you expect, so give yourself permission to hit send.

How should you ask someone on LinkedIn for career advice?

Start with a clear, manageable request. Someone interested in a company might ask a connection about their experience working there. Someone exploring an industry might ask how the person got started or which skills have helped them most.

A request such as "Would you have 15 minutes to tell me a little about your experience at X?" makes it clear what you're asking. If the person agrees, prepare a few questions in advance and respect the amount of time requested.

Following up matters too. If someone's advice leads to a useful conversation or opportunity, tell them. A quick message such as "I took your suggestion and reached out to X. We had a great conversation. Thank you!" gives the relationship another natural touchpoint.

What is the 3-2-1 approach to networking?

Building a professional network works best as an ongoing habit. The 3-2-1 approach creates a simple weekly routine:

3 comments: Join three conversations that genuinely interest you. Ask a question, share your perspective or congratulate someone.

2 messages: Reach out to two people you have a reason to talk to. Check in with an old classmate, follow up with someone you recently met or send something that reminded you of a previous conversation.

1 conversation: Turn one interaction into a conversation. Grab coffee with someone you know, ask for 15 minutes on the phone or introduce yourself to someone you've been interacting with online.

How can you maintain your professional network on LinkedIn?

Look for real reasons to stay in touch. Congratulate someone on a promotion. Follow up after they give you advice. Send an article related to a conversation you had. Ask how a project turned out.

LinkedIn features can help create more of those opportunities. Catch Up can surface important moments among existing connections, Grow can help identify new people to connect with, and interacting with posts can keep members involved in conversations happening across their professional community.

A simple weekly checklist can help make those interactions a habit:

• Three comments
• Two messages
• One conversation

FAQs

What LinkedIn tools can help me grow my professional network?

LinkedIn members can use AI-powered people search to find professionals relevant to what they want to learn. Within My Network, Grow can help surface professionals based on shared interests, experiences and connections, and Catch Up can highlight milestones among existing connections that create natural reasons to reconnect.

Should I follow or connect with someone on LinkedIn?

Following can be a useful first step when you're interested in someone's work or perspective. You can see what they share, learn more about their work and find opportunities to join conversations. As the relationship develops or you have a clear reason to reach out, you may decide to connect.

What should I say when reaching out to someone on LinkedIn?

Start with a clear reason for reaching out. A new role, promotion, shared interest, previous conversation or question about someone's experience can all provide an opening. Keep the message conversational and focused so the recipient knows why you're contacting them and has something easy to respond to.

Will people be annoyed if I message them on LinkedIn?

Nearly 4 in 10 Gen Z professionals say they worry about bothering people or being judged when networking. Yet 83% of millennials and Gen Xers say they're likely to help someone seeking advice or support, including someone they've never met. A clear request that respects the recipient's time can make reaching out feel more manageable.

How often should I engage with my LinkedIn network?

The 3-2-1 approach provides a simple weekly cadence: three comments, two messages and one conversation. Consistent interactions can help members stay connected to existing relationships and create opportunities to develop new ones over time.