The Importance of Networking
Q: People keep telling me that I should be making more of an effort to network during my job search. Why is networking so important?
A: You are more likely to find a job through networking than you are from blinding sending out resumes to people who have never heard of you. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, approximately 70% of all jobs are found through personal contacts. Only 2% of jobs are obtained through sending out resumes.
Think of it this way, employers are similar to job applicants. Employers want to find the best college graduates to hire. Job applicants want to find the best possible job they can get. Both an employer and a job applicant may pay a heavy price in terms of wasted time, energy, and money if they make the wrong decision. Therefore, employers are more likely to interview and ultimately hire someone who was recommended to them by a person they trust. Just like if someone you trust told you that XYZ is a terrible company to for, you wouldn’t be very excited about accepting a job offer with XYZ Company would you? Therefore, you are more likely to conduct a successful job search if you concentrate on building relationships as opposed to focusing solely on your resume.
Aside from being an effective tool for helping you land a job, networking should be something you do all throughout your career. Through your networking contacts and attendance at events you will learn about latest trends in your industry and have people to call if you need work related advice. You’ll also be more likely to develop new friendships with people who have similar interests. Good luck in your job search, and for more information on networking, read Networking 101 and Networking 102 in our Tips & Advice section of the web site.