Networking: The Most Effective Way to Find a Job

How do you find a job?  That’s a very popular question these days.  Unfortunately, the correct answer isn’t very popular – Networking.

I know – you were hoping I would say the best way to find jobs is by searching online job boards like Monster and CraigsList, right?  Well, don’t neglect those sites, but don’t pin all (or even most) of your hopes on them.

Let me throw some stats at you.  According to a survey of 2002-2004 graduates of the UT College of Communication done five years after graduation:

• More than 70% found their first job out of college via their networking activities
• More than 78% found their current job (five years after college) via their networking activities

Again, this doesn’t mean they ignored online job boards, they just didn’t depend upon them as their primary means of finding employment.

CareerXroads, an HR/ staffing consulting company, recently surveyed employers to see what tools they use to recruit employees.  Guess what?  Their data reinforces the value of networking, as well.

According to the CareerXroads 8th Annual Source of Hire Study (February 2009):

• 39% of the full-time positions within companies were filled with internal transfers and promotions
• 27% of all external hires came from referrals
• Only 12% of hires were attributed to job boards

There is a lot if interesting information in the Source of Hire Study, I recommend you read it carefully.  You will learn a lot about how to and how not to search for a job.

Convinced?  Good!  Now, how can you put this whole “networking thing” into practice?  Start by looking at the time you invest in your job search.  Are you investing enough time?

If you are currently out of a job, searching for a job is your full-time job.  That is, you should be investing a good 40 hours a week in your job search.  If you are a student getting ready to graduate, decide how much time you are willing to carve out each week to commit to your job search; say 10 hours per week.  Know this, you are not going to find a job on “want to” alone; you have to invest the time and energy in the search.  And, yes, I know it can be a very frustrating process!

Now – back the the out-of-work person who is investing 40 hours a week in the job search.  Here’s your strategy: 

Invest 80% of your time in networking, research, relationship/referral-building (the proactive part of the job search) and only 20% in scanning the job boards and replying to what you see (the reactive part of the job search).  That means:

• Spend 8 hours each week scanning online job boards for opportunities and applying for jobs. Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, Direct Employers, The Ladders, Industry-Specific Job Boards, CraigsList, City or Region Specific Job Boards, LinkedIn’s job board, company-specific recruiting sites, etc.  Go to where the kind of opportunities you are seeking are posted and look there.  Don’t assume that every employer posts their jobs on Monster, CareerBuilder or CraigsList – not all do.
• Spend 32 hours each week networking.  Huh? Grow your professional and personal network of contacts (LinkedIn and Facebook can be great tools for you in this process); read and do research about the jobs and industries you are trying to enter/re-enter; attend professional association meetings and luncheons; read the news so that you can speak with authority about what’s going on in your industry now.  Ask people for advice and assistance. Pitch your credentials.  You want to get  onand stay on the radar screen of all kinds of contacts – not just HR reps and recruiters.  Many companies offer their employees referral bonuses if they refer someone the company ends up hiring. The more people you know (and the more people who know you and what your qualfications), the better chance you have of getting considered for employment.

Searching for a job – particularly in tough economic times – is a roller coaster ride. You have to manage your time and your expectations.  If you treat your job search like a job,  invest your time and efforts wisely, and review your progress weekly – you will be successful much more rapidly.

Do some people find jobs without networking?  Yes – some people win the lottery or become the next American Idol, too – but most do not.

I know it’s not the answer most people want to hear, but the key to your success in job hunting is your ability and willingness to network!