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How People Find Jobs
Aren’t the newspapers & internet Job boards the best resource for job leads? 95% of people who are unemployed spend 90% of their time looking for a job in the newspapers and on Internet Job sites. But only 15% of all jobs are found that way. Consequently you are fighting with thousands of people for a very few jobs.
Targeted Networking
Contacting prospective employers directly.
Classical Networking
Contacting friends, acquaintances, Alumni, co-workers, etc.
Search Firms & Executive Recruiters
Contacting top tier retained and niche retained and contingency recruiters
Ads
Newspapers, Classifieds such as “Career Builders”
Internet
Job Search Websites such as Monster.com or Job Bank USA.
Other
Postings at Unemployment/Career centers, Bulletin boards etc.
Our suggestion is to focus 80% of your efforts on networking, not on the classifieds or internet job sites.
Targeted Networking, frequently referred to as the “Hidden Job Market”, is part of the overall Networking initiatives and is referred to as the Direct Contact Strategy.
The concept is to target specific Key Hiring Authorities in Companies and other Key Figures (VC, Investment Firms and others) that have awareness of Corporate needs in the early stages of execution.
Many key positions are created daily due to positive changes, like expansions, new markets, new initiatives, etc., while others are created due to negative changes, like electing to replace the incumbent, etc.
This is a very powerful strategy for the Job Seeker and has proven to become the largest share as noted. To learn exactly how to do this come to the Career Transitions Workshops that Willow Creek’s Career’s Ministry offers.
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Why Network?
- It is your ticket to the hidden job-market that you would have no access to otherwise.
- It gives you a chance to learn important information about various industries, companies, and jobs.
- You gain insider information about the hiring practices of specific companies.
- You get the opportunity to promote yourself and leave others with the impression that you are an intelligent and capable person.
- You receive valuable advice about the job search process.
- You will almost always obtain referrals to others who can offer you even more information.
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Five Important Networking Tips
- Seek to expand your own network by tapping into other's networks. Always ask for referrals. In this way, your own network will expand rapidly, gaining you access to professionals in your field that you would have no link to otherwise.
- Never directly ask individuals in your network for a job. Instead, ask for information, referrals, and advice. Although finding a job is your ultimate goal, the subtle approach will be much more successful.
- Expect rejection but don't let it stop you. Some people will simply be too busy to offer you any time. However, if you are genuine and sincere in your request for information and advice, you place the person in the position of trusted advisor, a concept that is very flattering to many people. In this way you increase your odds of receiving more positive responses to your requests.
- Always send a sincere thank-you letter within 48 hours of contact. If the individual does not already have a copy of your resume, this is the time to send it. Ask them to remember you if they hear of a job opening for someone with your qualifications.
- Stay as organized as possible. A computer database or contact manager is ideal but if they are not available, a notebook will serve the purpose. Keep track of everyone you have contacted; their name, title, address, phone number, e-mail address, how you contacted them, the outcome, and any tasks you need to follow up on.
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