The facts are the facts. Most job seekers are not networking…efficiently. Nurturing your contacts and building new connections has to start before you need it, yet that message still isn’t being heard. Many newly unemployed job seekers have no idea where or how to start their job search.
UpMo has compiled two recent surveys that state just this.
The first study highlights (full summary here):
- Sporadic communication: Job seekers only talk to—or email—an average of 8 people outside of their current organization on a monthly basis.
- Failure to expand the circle: Job seekers are reluctant to ask for introductions, with fewer than 4-in-10 (38%) asking for an introduction in the past month.
- Small networks: On average, job seekers have a
network with of just 29 colleagues, defined as peers they have
interacted with in the last 18-24 months. - Misplaced priorities: Jobs seekers say spend 68% of their
time is spent looking at online job postings—and less than one-third of
their time reaching out to others.
The second study highlights (full post here):
- Are ill-prepared for the job hunt: Only 3-in-10 feel
“very confident” or “extremely confident” that they could use their
network to land a job within 30 days if suddenly laid off.
This isn’t true for many of the job seekers I know. They have become very active, and I think they will remain active networkers.
Let’s spread the word. Let all your employed friends know that networking is the new job search. Start today.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
