Gen Z Founders Are Rising, But Fear Still Blocks Networking

More young people than ever are identifying as founders, according to new LinkedIn research. Yet a striking number of them struggle with a basic career skill: asking for help. The data shows that 73% of Gen Z professionals hesitate to reach out to others, held back not by financial concerns but by a fear of being a burden, appearing inauthentic, or facing judgment.

Why Gen Z Hesitates to Network

LinkedIn VP and career expert Catherine Fisher notes that Gen Z understands the value of relationships but hasn’t yet built confidence in forming them. The instinct to avoid seeming awkward or being ignored often stops the first message before it’s ever sent. That reluctance carries a real cost: only 11% of Gen Z job applications include a personal connection, even though those applications are nearly seven times more likely to result in a hire.

A Willingness on Both Sides

The hesitation may be misplaced. Older professionals are just as open to helping as Gen Z assumes they aren’t—83% of Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers say they’d offer guidance to a complete stranger, and Gen Z reports the same willingness when the roles are reversed. One young professional found this out firsthand after reaching out to someone whose LinkedIn post struck a chord with her, a move that eventually led to both of her current jobs.

Fisher’s advice is to reframe networking entirely: instead of treating it as asking for a favor, approach it as starting a conversation. A comment on someone’s work or a thoughtful question can be enough to open the door, without the pressure of a formal ask.