The Strength of Weak Ties was one of the most important network science theories in existence. In 1973, Mark Granovetter wrote his landmark paper studying how people get jobs through their personal networks. Contrary to expectations, Mark found that people typically get new jobs through their weak ties (acquaintances) rather than their strong ties (close family and friends). Building weak ties into your network introduces you to more diverse partners, ideas and opportunities, while reducing the time it takes to manage and maintain relationships. Download or read the full paper on the Strength of Weak Ties below.