Yes, Networking Gets You Hired… Period

Many people seeking employment do not consider networking a key element in job search strategy.

Job seekers often focus on their resume, cover letter, and finding the best industry job boards… certainly all important.

However, the contacts in your network are much more likely to get you hired.

Here’s why:

You Will Get Hired Faster

• Getting an interview is the hardest part in a job search; knowing a current employee at that company will, 9 times out of 10, dramatically increase your chance of getting an interview

• New research from Jobvite found that “Employees hired through referral are hired 55% faster than those who come from a career site”

85% of Jobs Are not Posted Publicly

• I realized networking was going to play a big role in my job search after my mentor, Deirdre Breakenridge, shared the stat above; every single job I have found has been through a person who recommended me or told me about an opportunity

• When my current employer is looking for a new employee, they always send around an email to the entire company asking for referrals

People in the Industry Know Who’s Hiring

• Professionals who attend networking events regularly have a good handle on what is happening; they know which companies are doing well, important events happening in the industry, and which companies are hiring

• These people are always willing to help new professionals in the industry; offer to take them out to coffee so that you can ask them more about the industry and what they currently do (once the relationship is built, tell them what you are looking to do and ask if they can introduce you to people they know who might be able to help you land a job)

By learning how to networking efficiently you can find a job faster than the average job seeker while building a substantial personal sphere of influence.

Have you ever networked your way to a job?

For this post, YouTern thanks our friends at Start Networking Today!

About the Author: John Muscarello is the founder of Start Networking Today, a website that teaches recent graduates and young professionals how to network and advance their career. John breaks down networking and career advancement techniques he has used into simple actionable steps to help young professionals achieve career success. Follow John on Twitter!