How did you get to know about your current job?
The number of response was rather pathetic but this is what I gathered:-
Referrals – 28%
Job Portals – 28%
Newspaper Ads – 7%
Head-Hunter – 21%
Others – 14%
Click here to see the poll.
Due to the number of responses, the results may not be entirely accurate. So I checked out others. Surprisingly, most surveys such as the following which is done by an outplacement company seems to concur with my own findings.
The was done by asking human resource executives to rate the effectiveness of various job-search methods on a scale of 1 1(least effective) to 5(most effective). Here are the results:
Networking.......................................3.98
Social/professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter..................3.3
Internet job boards..............................3.0
The least effective methods, according to the poll, were:
Newspaper classified ads........................1.7
Job Fairs...........................................1.6
Read more here.
Conclusion:
The best and most effective way to get hired is through your contacts or career networking(the professional term). I think experience had told us that this is so true. A good word by a friend makes a lot of difference, especially from a friend that has some professional standing. His opinions would obviously be highly regarded. So, looks like it’s a never a bad idea to know some friends in high places, eh?
Now, how do you get started? And how do you ensure they vouch for you? Let me throw you some ideas:
1. Make good friends with your head-hunters or recruitment consultants. Form lasting relationships, if possible by sending your professional updates on regular basis. Trust and credibility is built on time. Ability to form a good impression in the eyes of head-hunters is both a skill and effort, but believe me, the time and effort is worth it. The same applies if you offended or stepped on the wrong foot of the head-hunters – the word spread and it may destroy you.
2. Do not limit yourself to one networking channel or connection. Is there a local church/mosque/temple, networking clubs like BNI, golf or tennis clubs, pet forums, charity organizations and etc. that you can be part of?
3. Are you willing to write, review, comment or give a talk on your professional field? That is where you establish your authority in that subject. Soon, prospective employers will be knocking on your doors. The results may not come immediately but harvest will come when you have sowed the seed.
4. Get letters of testimonials and recommendation from employers and clients whenever you did a good job. A collection of these will come in handy.
5. Keep in touch with your ex-colleagues and ex-bosses. Do not burn bridges with them. Prospective employers like to make reference checks with your past employers. I think you know what is at stake if you had jeopardized those relationships.
6. That applies to your business and personal associates too. Keep in touch with them so that they know you are still doing what you are doing. You may probably be the first person they remember when a job related to your profession pops up in conversations!
7. Many professionals are using LinkedIn and even Facebook more and more nowadays to get job recommendations. What kind of professional image are you projecting? You may be surprised what you put there can either make or harm you.
The old adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know” does has an element of truth when you are climbing the corporate ladder. So, be a smart career planner. Having said that, I am not against those that believe their good performance will speak for themselves but it just takes longer for people to notice you. Whether you like it or not, most people who hold really good positions got there through networking!
What about those who are just starting out? Is it too early to start career networking? Never. But for you, the next best bet would be the online job sites(the poll results speak for itself).
Cheers to a better career!
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