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Featured Article
A Lesson from Sociology: Networking and the Job Search
September 15, 2006
How do most people find their jobs? Despite the
myriad ways of searching for a job, the internet, employment agencies,
job fairs, and career centers, one of the most viable ways of finding
and getting a job continues to be through networking.
The strength of your personal network can be vastly underestimated.
Jobseekers often lament, "But I don't have a network, I don't really
know anyone!" The assumption is that a network is only useful if
one can take a meeting with say, Mark Cuban, Russell Simmons, or Bill
Gates. This assumption runs counter to the way that people actually
get jobs.
83% of the respondents said that the
useful connections involved people they did not know very well.
In his classic book, entitled Getting a Job, sociologist Mark
Granovetter reveals the surprising dynamics of the networking approach.
Granovetter interviewed 300 professional and managerial workers, asking
in detail about their employment history. His findings are not only
interesting, they're also relevant to your job search. Approximately
56% of the respondents found their jobs through a personal connection.
The most surprising finding was that 83% of the respondents said that
the useful connections involved people they did not know very well.
They were what the author called "weak ties" - people were
getting their jobs not through their friends, but through mere acquaintances.
Granovetter describes the phenomenon as "the power of weak ties".
The good news here is that the people in your network don't have to
be close personal friends in order for you to get a job through them.
By actively engaging in your job search and following up on contacts,
even those that seem to be long shots, you can maximize your chances
of landing a position.
Here are some strategies for putting your network to work
- Prepare an "elevator speech" - Summarize and rehearse
key strengths and highlights about yourself that can be delivered
in 30 seconds. who you are, what you do, what kind of job you're interested
in.
- Use your network - Begin with contacts you already have,
including friends, family, former roommates, neighbors, etc. Tell
people in your network that you're seeking a job, and ask if anyone
has a contact who would be able to give their insight and advice.
- Reciprocate - Remember that networking is more than passing
out business cards, or asking for help. It also involves offering
help or information that will be useful to others.
- Manage your network - This means that you should continue
to connect with people even when you are happily employed. You never
know when may hear of an exciting opportunity.
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