Georgia's Dept of Labor Job Search Handbook - Chapter 9 - Networking - How to reach out and touch everyone Fewer than 5 percent of all job seekers have been taught the most effective ways to look for work.
Fewer than 5% of all job seekers have been taught the most effective ways to look for work. "So what?" You may say, "everyone knows to..." check newspaper want ads mail résumés visit private and public employment agencies use other resources such as school placement offices, union halls, headhunters, professional organizations, etc.
Yet these formal methods produce results only 30-35% of the time. In fact, 42% of all unemployment is deemed "frictional"...the inability of job seekers to connect with existing job openings.
In large part, the problem is due to the fact that 85% of all job openings are never advertised or listed with employment agencies, and more than 80% of all new jobs are created by small businesses. In essence, most new jobs are tucked away in what is defined as the "hidden job market" - a term used to describe unadvertised job openings.
This "hidden job market" is difficult to access through traditional job search methods. The need for better approaches to finding jobs is growing more acute as we enter the 21st century. Our rapidly changing, global economy has made the concept of a lifetime job a vanishing dinosaur.
Consider that... on average, approximately 170,000 to 175,000 Georgians are unemployed monthly, most through no fault of their own. young Americans will change jobs every one and one-half years before age 35; every three years over age 35. most people will have three to five different careers in a lifetime. job "security" will be considered three to seven years with the same employer. finding and changing jobs is becoming a normal part of our lifestyle.
In addition to those tried and true methods listed earlier, there are two informal job seeking methods which result in 65% of all hires. They are not really new; most of us have casually used them before. Direct contact with employers and networking through friends, relatives and acquaintances. These are informal but highly effective.
Direct Contact with Employers
Going door-to-door is one way of making direct contacts. Not only is this costly and time consuming, but it is also frustrating. You'll probably find that many of the employers you visit cannot even use a person with your particular skills. This can be a waste of time that could be spent much more wisely.
A more efficient method is to prepare for direct contacts by targeting potential employers. The first step is to locate resources such as manufacturing guides, business directories, Chamber of Commerce membership rosters, trade journals, etc. Most are available at the public library. You already own the best...the yellow pages of your phone book.
Now... list the general types of businesses that may use your job related or transferable skills under each category, list specific employers by name, address and phone number try to determine, through research, the name of the hiring authority in each business telephone or visit the company (the purpose is to arrange an interview or find out more about the company)
Remember, your PERSONAL BUSINESS CARD is an excellent tool for direct, cold calls. Leave it with the employer whether there is a job opening or not, or use it as a script when phoning. Since 20-25% of all job openings are the result of turnover and/or in-house promotions, directly contacting employers may put you in the right place at exactly the right time.
Networking How many people do you know? You probably can't count high enough to cover... your relatives your friends and acquaintances members of your church, social or business groups people you do business with (bankers, hairdressers, doctors, dentists, teachers, etc.)
All of these people know other people and some of them have inside information about jobs. How do you find those persons? Simply follow the three step technique below.All of these people know other people and some of them have inside information about jobs. How do you find those persons? Simply follow the three step technique below.
Networking is nothing more than asking everyone you know the following questions:
Do you know of anyone who could use my skills? If yes, get the name and number. If no...ask
Do you know of anyone who may know someone who could use my skills? If yes, get the name and number. If no...ask
Do you know someone who knows lots of people?
As a starting point, list five people who fit into each of the categories previously listed. Include their phone numbers. Suppose they answer your questions by giving you 2 more names. You'll now have approximately forty-five people helping you look for a job.
Don't be shy. Tell your contacts about your skills and job ojectives. Better yet, give them copies of your PERSONAL BUSINESS CARD. Remember that most jobs are never advertised...they are filled quickly by word of mouth referrals. In fact, many openings never even reach the personnel office for recruitment. Being in the right place at the right time is often no more than the result of knowing the right person. That right person just might be the wife of your banker, the next door neighbor of your hairdresser, or the dentist of your daughter.
Use the Network Contacts worksheet to help you organize your contacts.
Job Search on the Internet
Today, there is an exciting new option in job search: finding your job by using the Internet to network. The Internet is a worldwide interconnection of computer networks which provide information on every subject imaginable.
Job seekers who have access to a computer and the Internet may choose to go on-line to network and perform such tasks as exchanging correspondence, researching companies, submitting résumés, narrowing job search by fields of interest, and in some cases, interviewing with prospective employers.
Commercial on-line services and the Internet are resources that are becoming increasingly valuable for job seekers. Those who use these resources must familarize themselves with computer technology and associated cost factors.
