With looming deadlines, long meetings, and never-ending emails, getting through the work week isn’t always easy. Work can feel isolating, especially when you’re working from home, which is why connecting with your colleagues is so important.
You don’t have to like everyone, but finding one work buddy can make a big difference in your career trajectory.
Nearly half of women say they need close friends at work to have a successful career.
According to a LinkedIn survey, 42% of women say they want to have close friends at work, compared to just 34% of men. 56% of women say they have made close friends at work, compared to 50% of men.
After all, work friends do more than make you laugh or let you vent about your coworkers’ annoying quirks.
Having friends at work can help you advance in your career, especially if you work in a male-dominated field where women are often passed over for promotions despite being recognized for their performance.
LinkedIn career expert Katherine Fisher explained why friendships between female colleagues are so powerful.
“We know that workplace friendships help women feel seen and supported, but they also help expand their networks and increase opportunities for professional growth,” Fisher said.
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There’s intrinsic value in having someone recognize your experience, which is a great reason to prioritize your coworkers. Who else can you text when your boss steals credit for yet another team project?
For women in the workplace, making friends is more than just a social interaction — it’s a means to career advancement.
Professional connections lead to opportunities, so it’s no surprise that women employees see work friendships as a way to open doors that might otherwise be closed to them before they even get in.
Friendships aren’t the only relationships women rely on to advance their careers.
46% of women say they want a mentor at work, and 36% report having a professional mentor.
36% of men say they need a mentor, and only 29% say they have a mentor. These low numbers aren’t particularly surprising: the corporate world was created by men, for men, which means men don’t need much help getting promoted.
This also means that most workplaces are not well-equipped to support women when they are called upon to take on the role of primary carer.
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Women with children tend to earn less throughout their careers and pay what’s known as the “mommy tax,” while fathers earn more and benefit from the “fatherhood bonus.”
“Women’s careers are more affected by life events such as childcare and eldercare responsibilities, and as a result women are twice as likely as men to take a career break,” Fisher said.
These women are often at a disadvantage when they return to the workforce, and having a friend or mentor can help you expand your network and find opportunities you might otherwise miss.
Developing intimate relationships in the workplace is a way of claiming a rightful place in a system that is rigged against us.
It’s a way to come together to claim what is rightfully ours – everything.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango’s news and entertainment team. She covers social issues, pop culture analysis, and all things related to the entertainment industry.
