It’s 6pm on Friday night, everyone is leaving the office to go down to the pub – do you go with them or make your excuses and sneak off home?  A recent employment survey by the San Jose State University in the USA has found that those who do go out and socialise with colleagues earn up to 14% more than those who don’t.  By spending time with colleagues outside of work, there’s more chance that you will be able to informally network with your managers and bosses helping you to build useful relationships.

Co-author of this study, Edward Stringham said: "Social drinking builds social capital. Social drinkers are out networking, building relationships, and adding contacts to their BlackBerries that result in bigger paychecks."

Certain subjects are obviously best avoided when your bosses are around, such as office gossip or anything that others might find offensive.  But by generally being social and showing that you are interested in being part of the company outside of working hours will help you to be noticed by the people that can help you on your career path. 

However, this is not a reason to go out drinking every night or spend your time in the office drunk!  Many companies are cracking down on alcohol-related absenteeism, which costs the UK industry an estimated £3 billion a year. Just because you are going for drinks doesn't mean they have to be alcoholic all the time, or even at all.