Your Weekly Job Search Tip: Speak with Everyone   by Kurt Allan

in Careers / Career Management    (submitted 2011-12-14)

For this weeks job tip we're talking about bettering your networking when searching for your next job. Networking has long been a key technique for obtaining work. How and where you network could have a dramatic impact on if/when you discover work, and for the overall choices you'll have.

Put yourself in the situation of an employer for a second. You have an open position it is important for you to fill (and fill fast). You have a variety of options available to you to seek qualified candidates. You might post the opening on many different job boards (i.e. Monster, Careerbuilder) or in the neighborhood or national newspapers. If you do this, you'll probably get hundreds or thousands of applicants who may (or might not) be eligible. You could also call the local staffing service, however they will change you thousands when the job is filled. While you're deliberating this a long-time co-worker stops by your office and tells you they know someone from a previous company who could be a perfect match for your opening. Which choice are you going to follow first?

The answer is obvious. Employers love referrals! Why wouldn't they? It's a quick, low cost solution to locating a qualified job candidate. They will enter into the interview process with some background and confidence that they're not throwing away their time. It costs companies a lot of money to fill an opening. These costs go beyond the fees etc. for job boards and staffing. It takes time. The longer an enquiry takes, the more money it ends up costing. The longer a position is vacant, the longer the tasks or projects that position is needed for goes undone. They want to find you via referrals.

So how get referrals? It's actually easy and it's up to you. You have to network with every body you think is likely to be able to help. This can include family, friends, neighbors, ex-coworkers, ex-bosses, ex-whatever! Make use of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other online social networks which were intended to facilitate just this type of networking - often without charge! Go through the address book and connect with people you've forgotten about or lost touch with. Undoubtedly you never know who can help you find work.

So keep in mind - networking is an significant aspect of your job search! Employers want to find people through referrals. Talk to everyone - you can never know where or how you will find your next job. Best wishes!

About the Author

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