How do software developers discover their next big tech-job opportunity? According to a new survey, many rely on their personal circle of friends, family, and trusted colleagues—all the more reason to maintain and grow your professional and personal networks as we head into 2022.

According to Stack Overflow’s latest survey (which had 500 respondents), some 47 percent of developers said they discovered potential future employers via their personal network. Around 41 percent said they came across prospective companies via media such as news articles or blogs. Slightly fewer relied upon company reviews via third-party sites (such as Glassdoor or Blind) or company-produced media (such as corporate blogs). Check out the full chart:

“For those that come across companies that they might want to work for, they ask friends or family first and read media coverage about the company,” added Stack Overflow’s blog accompanying the data. “And 26 percent of developers say they discovered a company for consideration from an ad on a website. For those actively on the hunt for a new job, they tend to look at company reviews first and media coverage second.”

This is a good moment to emphasize the importance of personal networks; not only can friends, family, and colleagues (both current and former) direct you toward excellent companies and opportunities, but they can warn you if a potential employer is problematic in some way. While the pandemic has made it difficult at moments to network in person, it’s very possible to build out an effective network remotely. 

For example, it can pay off to spend time interacting with online groups and subreddits devoted to your interests. Post on social media about projects and technologies that interest you; offer your opinions and contribute to solutions when possible. Make sure that your social-media profiles are up-to-date, and use appropriate hashtags when posting to boost your discoverability. 

At your current job, take the time to solidify connections with your colleagues, as well as internal experts whose work interests you. These teammates can serve as excellent resources and sounding boards as you navigate through your career—even after you (or they) leave the company.