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JL JobLabs

UK Recruitment Glossary

Networking

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

In recruiter context

The job-seeker version of networking is largely useless — turning up to events handing out CVs to strangers converts at near zero. The version that works is narrow and warm: 8-12 ex-colleagues, ex-managers, and people in roles you want, kept lightly in touch with quarterly. Referral conversion at most UK employers runs 5-10x cold application rates, and at some firms an internal referral skips the CV-screen stage entirely. "Networking" is really just "don't lose touch with people who liked working with you." That's it.

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