Networking to get a job
Is it as scary as it seems?
The most common advice I’ve been getting when job hunting is how important networking is. A thought that used to put me on edge. My brain instantly took me to having to attend lots of events to speak to strangers. As a marketeer, I tended to let the sales team “work the room” while I comfortably facilitated from the sidelines.
Now, well into my job search journey, I’m learning to not only network my behind off, but actually enjoy it. What made it less scary? I broke it down. What is it, how to do it and if it’s as beneficial as everyone is telling me – spoiler alert, it is.
Stripping it back makes it less nightmare-inducing and more soul-nourishing. It’s important whether you are job hunting or not. So here is me, sharing my breakdown, (of networking, not emotional) with you and hoping it can help anyone who turns pale when they’re told to “network”.
It’s all in how you frame it. So, let’s start with defining it.
Noun - the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
Not keen on that one? Me either, so here is a slightly less scary version to lead us in…
“Networking is the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting. Networking often begins with a single point of common ground.’
Leading with an ‘exchange of information’ and sharing ways of thinking with someone you already have a connection with, feels less daunting. “Interacting” just makes it too formal and everyone benefits from an exchange.
Next, I worked with my really chatty friend Genevieve Patrice Turner, (we call her GPT for short) for some advice on this whole subject, and came up with a great list to contextualise the benefits of networking;
Career progression (let’s add job hunting into this bucket)
Building business partnerships and collaboration
Mentorship
Personal growth
Mental well-being – aka cheerleading!
So it’s not important for just those looking for a new job, even Genevieve agrees with me on that, but is it the golden ticket to landing a new role…?
Is Networking really the job-hunting unicorn?
Quote - ‘The richest people in the world look for and build networks; everyone else looks for work.’
The statistic 85% of all jobs are found through your network, is one I have heard numerous times. As a sceptical marketeer, I did some fact-checking. After not too much google driven detective work, I came across two things;
1 – it was based on a study LinkedIn carried out in 2015/2016 – that’s nearly 10 years ago, so statistically speaking, a tad outdated.
2 – it seems I’m not the only one who’s questioned this stat and subsequently commented on its validity. Ultimately it seems it’s quite hard (aka costly) to work out - potentially why it’s not been updated.
As I’m unable to validate the actual figure, I asked Greg Weiss, founder and director of Career 365, for his view. After working with 1,300+ people with outplacement support, he agreed that whilst this figure is anecdotal, it’s definitely in the ballpark and probably hovers somewhere around 85%.
Taking it further, Greg used an iceberg metaphor, where we may only ever see a small percentage of jobs advertised, leaving a fair number of jobs only visible by knowing the right people. Therefore, maintaining and building connections is key to knowing when a job becomes available and, before it hits the job boards. Is also worth noting that a recommendation from a connection for a role goes a long way to standing out from the crowds.
Don’t underestimate starting small
Quote - ‘Courage starts with showing up and letter ourselves be seen’
I’ve now convinced myself that networking is pretty important. Not just for job hunting but for staying plugged in and less alone.
It can start as simple as having a conversation with an old college or grabbing a coffee with one of the many amazing recruiters out there. Post something on LinkedIn that gets you popping up on your network’s feed. You could even write an article to start a conversation!
I’ve now been to a couple of smaller events, starting with a friendly and like-minded bunch of people. I can highly recommend Business Chicks for, well, business chicks.
From a small spark, flames will grow, and so too will your confidence and ultimately your network. The initial thought of networking might seem scary, but you’ve probably been doing it without knowing. You just need to scale it up if you’re not “aware” you’re actually “networking”.
Mastering the art of building human connections
Making connections is a basic human trait for so many people – it’s what makes us thrive as a race. Forbes came up with a list of 5 traits of highly connected people that resonated with me, so I thought I would share them and expand:
A genuine interest in other people – building connections based on genuine interest will create genuine interactions, leading to further interactions – a multiplier effect if you will.\
A desire to help others – karma is a real thing my friend, the universe will pay it back, if you pay it forward.
Patience – building a network doesn’t happen overnight so don’t stop even when you get yourself a job.
A future-focused mindset – it takes time to build a network and like nurturing a garden, you need to nurture your network.
An emphasis on quality over quantity - quality connections are ‘worth a hundred times more in value’ than in quantity.
Networking - where opportunities meet connection
I don’t think anyone is going to argue with the fact that networking plays a critical role in finding a new job.
It may not be the silver bullet, but I think it could be the icing on the cake and should absolutely be a key element in your job hunt.
Putting myself out there has helped me plug back into what I love and kept the flame growing. I’m grateful for all my connections helping me stay positive and looking out for me. Plus, I’m enjoying the how and when of making new connections.
quote ‘the currently of real networking is not greed but generosity.’
Even if you have a job, if you someday want to move, or find yourself needing to look, growing and maintaining your network now will pay dividends when you need it. Also giving back to your network, by helping someone to make the right connections, could change that someone’s life.
It’s true what they say, networking is not just about connecting people. It’s about connecting with people, people with ideas and people with opportunities.
Image with the words - I urge you to dive in, the water is actually quote inviting and warm.
