One of the most common questions I get asked when a client’s job search is stalled is “Do I have to do the whole networking thing?”
Yes. Yes, you do.
Job seekers are great at submitting online job applications day in and day out of their search. It’s a very common appropriation of job search activities for most of the time to be spent on the couch and very little time spent off the couch. Take a moment to douse yourself in truth serum and answer the following questions:
- Have you ever applied to more than one job at the same company using the same resume without a cover letter?
- Have you ever applied to a position at a company that you knew absolutely nothing about?
- Have you ever applied to a position that you weren’t really even interested in?
- Have you ever actually gotten a job doing any of the above listed activities?
The age of technology has blown up the old school job market. Just as an example, Starbucks reported receiving 7.6 million applications for 65,000 corporate jobs in a single year. Research consistently identifies networking as an important job search tool — anywhere from 40-80% of job placements are attributed to networking. Networking can also be a way to identify unadvertised job opportunities — accessing the “hidden job market.” (The “hidden job market” refers to jobs that are not advertised publicly. These positions may be filled through employee referrals, recruiters, or direct contact with hiring managers through networking.)
Blindly throwing a net out into the ocean and sitting back in disgust when you don’t catch five-star lobster is simply not an effective approach.
So yes, you will need to get a handle on some networking skills, building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships. The people you know can be the best way for you to find your next job. The “tried and true” path of networking is still the most successful way to find your next position. When you least expect it, someone in your network says, “You know what? You should talk to John Jones at the XYZ Company. I just heard they’re hiring.”
How Do I Find Connections?
Logic would dictate then that the more people you know, the more access to opportunities you might have. And trust me, you know more people than you think you do.
Consider individuals outside of your normal connection box. Most of us have a network on LinkedIn or in our email address book with individuals that we currently work with, and colleagues from the past few years. But what if you added personal individuals, friends, relatives, and neighbors to this list? In your professional circle, consider business connections, vendors, co-workers, conference attendees, lawyers, accountants, and even your dentist as part of your network. Educational connections are a great resource as well – teachers, classmates and fellow alum. And finally, individuals that you might know from your community, whether they be association or club members, churchgoers, or fellow gym rats. All of these individuals can be part of your job search network.
If you find yourself feeling sheepish at the idea of talking to any of these individuals about your career or job search, try some of these tried and true phrases for the networking-shy:
- “I really enjoy…”
- “I am fascinated by…”
- “I’ve already discovered…”
- “I’d really like to find out more about…”
Bringing Your Value
To ensure that you’re bringing value to these new networking conversations, focus on creating a mutually beneficial relationship. You have to gauge your relationship status with each connection to ensure that you bring some form of value to each and every conversation. When in doubt, show genuine interest in the other human being. Be yourself and be genuinely interested. It sounds crazy, right? Before asking someone if they would be willing to make an introduction to an organization, consider the fact that cultivating a conversation in which YOU spend time showing genuine interest in their experience and their own story of success can be a great way to bring your own form of value. At the end of a 10-minute conversation, they might turn to you and say, “Oh my gosh, I’ve been talking this whole time! What have you been up to? How can I help you?”
Getting Down to It
As with many components of your job search, setting goals here is important. Try to increase your number of connections each week or register for X number of online networking events per month. Work on your LinkedIn profile and begin reaching out carefully to those extra-strong connections in your existing network.
Lastly, make sure that you’re being really specific with how individuals can help you. Once the connection is made and you have brought value to the relationship, it’s time to ask for help. Be prepared for this portion of the conversation. Make sure you’ve adequately built the relationship/connection, researched the company or job you want to talk about, and remember to show gratitude and always follow up.
