New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- As many as 83 per cent of Gen Z professionals in India are hesitant to network despite recognising the importance of professional relationships, potentially missing out on a hiring advantage, with LinkedIn data showing job applicants with an inside connection are nearly 8.5 times more likely to get hired than those without one.

According to a press release by LinkedIn, 79 per cent of Indian Gen Z professionals understand the importance of professional relationships, but 52 per cent do not know how to start building them, while 53 per cent struggle to turn contacts into meaningful connections.

The professional networking platform said fear of being judged was the biggest barrier, cited by 44 per cent of Gen Z respon...