Here’s how the process of getting a job should work: You submit your resume, you’re evaluated fairly and reasonably on the merits, and if you meet the requirements, you get the job. But of course, that’s not how things work at all, and it’s impossible to get a job these days.

So what gives? How do you actually hack? Boosting your skills and improving your resume for the AI ​​bots that manage the applicant tracking system is certainly important. but According to New York University professor Scott GallowayIt’s not as important as the one thing that many of us find most difficult when it comes to job hunting.

Galloway says connections are the number one key to landing a job in today’s market.

Galloway is a professor of marketing at New York University’s Stern School of Business and a renowned expert on economics and the workplace. During a recent appearance on… Vice News PodcastHe made clear what he says is the number one thing you should have in your pocket to get a job today: connections. That’s real life.

This is difficult in our increasingly isolated world, but Galloway said that despite the ways the Internet has changed everything, the way our personal connections interact with our professional lives hasn’t changed much.

“The way you[succeed]as a young person is to go out, make friends, drink, and at every opportunity you can, help that person out,” he told Vice’s Shane Smith. It’s the good old “if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” dynamic. He said that working to build this network is absolutely necessary, and the data from studies on this topic supports it.

Related to: A former recruiter shares 7 steps to landing a new job when traditional applications don’t work out

Studies have shown that the majority of jobs come from networking and referrals.

It’s easy to dismiss this as the kind of pop psychology talk we hear all the time about the dire state of our economy and job market. “Just put yourself out there!” Not really advice after all… except that, well, it kind of is.

Recruiters have been talking about this for a while: The job market has become one in which a very small staff of hiring managers are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes for each position. It is a completely untenable situation, like drinking from a fire hose.

Monkey Business Pictures | Canva Pro

Those with connections cut through the noise and take the burden off recruiters’ backs in the process. “Google comes up with a job opening, and they get 200 resumes in about eight minutes,” Galloway said. “Seventy percent of the time, the person they choose is someone who has an internal supporter,” meaning someone with a connection.

His opinion is In line with extensive research This shows that those with connections are four times more likely to be hired than those who apply online and represent between 30-50% of all employees. Referred employees also have much higher retention rates, which means companies tend to prioritize them even if they are less qualified than outsiders.

Related to: 5 ways to find a job in 2025 when applying doesn’t work out, according to a career expert

It may not be fair, but communication is the make or break factor in our chaotic job market.

The problem, of course, is that “connections” is another way of saying “nepotism,” which is a very unfair part of the job market. Useful relationships in business are often the result of privilege, such as having well-connected parents, attending elite educational institutions, simply being white, male, or any other number of unearned advantages.

This is unfortunate, and it may no longer be the case. But until that happens, those of us who don’t have those legs must learn to create our own patronage, so to speak. But more importantly, Galloway, like many experts, said online communications are not enough. We need to be out in the world to make connections with others.

Professional organizations, networking events, volunteer work, and taking skills enhancement courses are all ways to meet those who may be able to refer us for jobs. Personal branding and image crafting, whether online or in person, are also a must.

Although this is daunting for the more introverted among us, the hard truth is that this is a “do it anyway” attitude. Because at the end of the day, this is all a psychological game. As Galloway explained to Smith, “You want to be put in rooms of opportunity when you’re not actually there.”

This means that you’ve created mutually beneficial social connections with your fellow professionals, so that when the opportunity arises, you’re the first person one of your peers thinks of when they say, “I know a guy or girl who would be great to do this.”

Related to: People with this underappreciated personality type are elite networkers, according to a career culture coach.

John Sundholm is a writer, editor, and video personality with over 20 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry. It covers topics of culture, mental health and human concerns.