build a network

Meaning

This phrase means to actively establish and develop mutually beneficial professional relationships with colleagues, industry peers, and clients. It is crucial for career development and business growth.

Examples

• Attending industry conferences is a great way to build a network of professional contacts.

  Attending industry conferences is a great way to build a network of professional contacts.

• It takes time and effort to build a network that can help you find new career opportunities.

  It takes time and effort to build a network that can help you find new career opportunities.

• She used LinkedIn to build a network of mentors in the tech industry.

  She used LinkedIn to build a network of mentors in the tech industry.

• To succeed as a freelancer, you must constantly work to build a network.

  To succeed as a freelancer, you must constantly work to build a network.

• Our university career center helps students build a network before they graduate.

  Our university career center helps students build a network before they graduate.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to make a network of professional contacts.

  ✓ I want to build a network of professional contacts.

  In English, we 'build' or 'develop' a network. Using 'make' sounds unnatural and is often a direct translation error.

• ✗ He attended the event to build a net.

  ✓ He attended the event to build a network.

  A 'net' is a physical object used for catching things. The figurative term for professional connections is always 'network'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you want to transition to a new industry, you need to ___ first.

  💡 Create professional relationships.

  Show answer

  build a network

• Social media platforms like LinkedIn make it easier than ever to ___ globally.

  💡 Connect with professional contacts.

  Show answer

  build a network