Career Networking WorksCareer Networking is best done through friends, family, and old colleagues. This is the way to get a good job you ordinarily would not be able to get into by your own efforts. Often, it is who you know, and who likes you, that will get your foot in the door of a good job, rather than a well written resume, qualifications, and great interviewing skills.
You have probably heard the expression "It's not what you know, it is who you know." This expression is as true today as it was hundreds of years ago. Using this networking technique to get into a job is probably one of the best ways to get a job. In hard economic times, it is especially "Who you know" that is critical to being introduced or referred to an employer. An example, is when you ask your friends or family to recommend a good dentist, lawyer, or accountant that they like, etc. The list of course goes on a lot further, because referrals are what get many professionals and businesses their best paying and most loyal customers. Likewise, you will be a referral to your prospective employer because of someone you know, because the employer asks who he knows for potential employee referrals, rather than going through the process of placing an ad in the local paper, interviewing someone he does not know.
It's not just "What You Know" any longerBefore I retired from the construction industry, I saw real world career networking in action throughout my entire career. If someone knew somebody, or they liked you, you were in. If not, it didn’t matter how good you were: You were out. Of course, you had to be qualified to do the job even if you knew someone, but nobody would get into those jobs without knowing someone through referrals, or recommendation.
The Motto of the modern day find a job strategy is not entirely "What you know." It's now "What you know," but also an added "Who you know, too." Things are political in nature in almost any employment arena, and everyone wants to have their friends and allies hired. For example, if there is a company merger, guess what the first thing the new bosses want to do? You guessed it, bring in their old tried and true, tested through time employees to replace you, because their boys and girls have a proven record of loyalty. In other words, put yourself in his shoes. If you were the guy who bought out another company, you would want your key people transferred in the place of those you didn't know, who would not be particularly loyal to you. For all you know, the company you just bought out may have employees who would be downright hostile to you, because they are still loyal to the old company. Another example of career networking is when your old boss brings you with him to where he will go next. This is called a job transfer. It all stems from known employee competency, which employees they want to retain, and who they know is loyal.
Referrals and RecommendationsFilling out a resume is like cold calling. You don't want to Career Search for jobs like this, if you do not have to. The way to a better job is through referral, just like previously mentioned above, just like if you were to ask a friend if he knows of an honest car salesman.The hiring professional is looking for others who are qualified to take key positions. This can also be called pre-screening; because of someone whose opinion they respect is recommending potential employees. People have gotten what they wanted from the beginning of man's consciousness through networking. Although, before it was not called career networking, it was simply a survival mechanism. Now, it has come full circle and is a necessary part of getting your foot in the door of a job you really want to be in. In an economic downturn it is not necessarily every man for himself. Many tend to pull together for common purpose, necessity, and economic survival. Top of page
|
