Networking is cute, but a work-bestie bond is what's going to save your sanity

We’ve all been there: eyes glazed, nods polite, minds wandering towards the next elevator pitch. But then, across the sea of spreadsheets and Zoom calls, your eyes catch your work bestie’s. Suddenly, the room feels a little lighter, your shoulders a little less heavy, and you get that tiny zing of energy, like she just sent a secret boost of support straight to your soul. It’s the same magic she works when she slides a pick-me-up chocolate bar across your desk during a deadline meltdown, or whispers a “you’ve got this” just when you need it most. Yes, work besties are so important, they’re basically essential survival gear in the wild world of office life. Sometimes, way more than a networking contact, and here's why. 

Networking contact v/s office bestie

Your networking contact will send you a generic holiday email and a vaguely lukewarm response on LinkedIn. But your office bestie has got your back. Whether it’s asking about that meddlesome ex who won’t stop texting you or hyping you up in front of your boss when your confidence is feeling a tad shy, genuine office bonds are hard to come by—but priceless when they do.

Is networking the new ghosting?

Obviously, networking has its perks. It’s useful, often the spark, the intro, the occasional shortcut. But like a bad situationship, it doesn’t really stick around when things get messy. Your work bestie is the one who picks up your call at 2 a.m. when you’re spiralling over a client presentation, or sends memes to calm you down. Can’t really imagine a random LinkedIn contact doing that now, can we?

Work bestie = mental health saviours

Here’s the deal: we spend at least eight hours a day at the office—or dealing with work. Burnouts are real, stress is underrated, and exhaustion is ever-present. A best friend at work is like your silver lining: they’re navigating variations of the same chaos and truly get you. That kind of solidarity can feel incomparable, no matter how many times you’ve vented to your patient boyfriend, your ever-listening family, or your BFF. Basically? A bestie at work is the difference between thriving and crying.

Connecting in the times of Zoom

With remote work becoming the norm, building connections is trickier—but even more crucial. Hallway chats and office cake may be rarer, but they’ve been replaced by Zoom happy hours, work group memes, and endless opportunities to DM your co-worker “WTF” during confusing presentations. The medium may change, but the magic is still the same: connection over transaction.

At the end of the day, networking may get you through the door, but work bonds are a major reason you stay. They turn co-workers into allies, jobs into adventures, and manic mornings into something slightly less hellish. So next time you’re at a networking mixer, collecting cards like it’s a round of UNO, remember: your colleagues aren’t just work-mates—they’re your career soulmates.

Lead image: IMDb 

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