Gone are the days when professional networking was limited to occasional tech conferences or job-hunting activities. The role, purpose and structure of professional networks has evolved to a higher level, thanks to the growth of online professional networking sites and changes in the way we connect, communicate and conduct business.

Today, successful networkers set out to create a fabric of peer collaborators, technical experts, friends and senior advisors who help them solve problems, foster creativity and innovation and even find emerging career opportunities. In fact, data shows that networking offers advantages and benefits that are too great to ignore.

Here’s an overview of the reasons why networking has become so vital to building and sustaining a robust career in technology along with some tips for reaping the rewards.

Better Chances of Scoring Interviews, Offers and Happiness

The results speak for themselves: data shows that 87 percent to 92 percent of jobs are filled through introductions or referrals from your network, noted Jeff Ton, IT speaker, author and president of Ton Enterprises.

While posting your resume is essential, it won’t get you an interview, Ton explained. You need someone to share your story or specific examples that demonstrate how you have made positive contributions in prior roles to grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.

Data also shows that being referred increases your chances of landing an offer more quickly and choosing the right employer. Referrals reduce the time to hire by up to 31 percent; even better, 50 percent of referred employees stay in their position for at least three years.

However, before you can ask for referrals or reap other benefits, you must first focus on expanding the diversity and depth of your networking relationships. As Dr. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI, a leading business referral organization, puts it: “If your network is a mile wide and an inch deep, it’s never going to be effective.”

Opportunities to Boost Your Visibility, Credibility and Reach

When you promote other professionals’ posts, share code review comments or participate in open-source projects, you establish yourself as a subject matter expert and thought leader, which are prerequisites for expanding and strengthening your professional network, explained Keith Bailey, founder, facilitator and story connector for Articulated Intelligence.

In general, referrals and contacts result from building trust and engaging in conversations with people, not from reaching out when you’re desperate to find a job, Bailey added. In turn, the people you connect with give you access to their network, which increases your referrals, and ultimately that leads to other tangible benefits or what he calls the return on networking (RON).

Access to Technical Expertise, Advice and Solutions

It’s impossible to keep up with all of the changes in technology on your own, Ton noted: “Taking online courses isn’t going to do it, either.”

Whether you need a solution to a technical problem, help interpreting data, research for a project or advice for implementing tools, you need a sub-network or cluster of technical experts you can turn to for questions and advice.

For instance, Ton belongs to a network of Indiana-based CIOs who regularly come together to share knowledge, discuss challenges, exchange ideas and explore opportunities related to their roles. The ease of finding and forging relationships with knowledgeable experts today is an often-overlooked benefit of modern networking. According to Forbes, people are a lot more inclined to start conversations online, and there’s no shortage of professional networking sites, associations and forums that cater to the needs of technology professionals.

“Plan it out,” Ton said. Research groups that match your career interests, goals and developmental needs and start going to those events.

Mentorship and Support

By following senior technology leaders online and establishing connections with experts in your field during conferences and professional association meetings, you can identify mentors and advocates who can offer you advice and support for your career development. Mentors can be incredible role models and sounding boards; they can also share their stories and knowledge in ways that help you grow and develop as a technology professional.

By the way, mentoring others can help you gain critical skills to improve as a leader and will give you the chance to meet other people in your field and increase your network. Here’s a recent episode of Dice’s “Tech Connects” where we dug into the joys and challenges of mentorship, particularly in a tech context: