5 Old Fashioned Ways to Enhance Your Job Search: Add new twists for better results!

When I finished college more than 45 years ago (Yes, I am a boomer!), the two most common tips I got were “network, network, network,” and “access the hidden job market.”  Like the proverbial Christmas fruitcake, this advice continues circling the globe today. Although it is still correct, we should modernize it to account for technology and post-pandemic realities.

Research continues to find networking with people as an important job search tool despite a half-century of technological and economic change. Anywhere from 40% to 80% of job placements are attributed to networking. Networking can also be a way to find unadvertised job opportunities — accessing the “hidden job market.” The “hidden” job market refers to positions hiring teams fill through employee referrals, recruiters, employer and recruiter LinkedIn searches, or direct contact with hiring managers through their network of industry or professional contacts.

With the right experience and credentials to meet a company’s needs, you may even have a job created just for you. For example, one of my clients became the first full-time lobbyist at an advocacy organization that had never hired a lobbyist before.

It happens all the time. Someone you know says, “You know what? You should talk to John Jones at the XYZ Company. They are looking for someone like you.”

Consider these four suggestions as you develop a network of business contacts:

1. Build your network before you need it,
2. Decide who should be on your contact list,
3. Decide how your business and personal contacts can help, and
4. Use LinkedIn and other social media as a tool to grow your contact list.

Build your network before you need it.

The single biggest mistake jobseekers make is not asking for help from their personal school, industry, and professional contacts. People want to help you — so let them! But don’t wait until you are out of work to start developing relationships with other people in your business or profession.

As author Harvey Mackey says, “Dig your well before you’re thirsty.” Develop your contacts, be willing to help these folks with their needs, and they will be there when you need them!

It can feel embarrassing to lose a job, especially when you were with a public agency, university, national or global not-for-profit organization, or global company that you expected to stay at ‘forever.” But keeping your search secret is the wrong approach when you are not working.

The more people who know you are looking for a job, the more eyes and ears that will be available to help. Networking is about getting the people you already know to help connect you to the people who will help you land your next career opportunity.

You can also tap into your network for specific help. For example, if you want to work at a particular company, ask people in your network if they know anyone who works for — or used to work for “Company X.” Then contact that person and ask about the company, culture, and hiring practices.

Do not forget to run a LinkedIn search for connections that work for your “Company X.” You may find someone you know well that you did not know works at that company now.

Who is in your network?

The first step is to find who is in your online and real-world network. This can include friends, relatives, parents of children’s friends, parents and relatives of your friends, club members, cousins, neighbors, current and earlier coworkers and managers, suppliers, and professional association contacts. Additionally, your doctor, financial advisor, or attorney can be valuable contacts. You never know who may have a great lead or know of an unadvertised opportunity. A client recently got a promising lead from a “dance mom” at her daughter’s ballet class, for example.

Your current business and personal contacts are just a starting point. For example, do not forget to add your educational contacts, including professors and classmates. Some time ago, I landed two new clients that a professor who taught a class I attended 25 years ago referred to me.

The list of people you know will expand, perhaps, exponentially, as you think about it. For example, I have been an amateur radio operator since childhood. Some of the “hams” I started out with in a local club are now senior professionals that have become clients, or that have referred prospective clients.

Decide how your contacts can help.

There are a few ways you can use contacts to find a new opportunity. The first is by reaching out to specific people — or your entire network — and letting them know you are looking for ideas, information, advice, and contacts/referrals. Even if you are contacting someone with the power to hire you, do not ask for a job. Ask for advice or help. Create a networking job search e-note or business letter and send the letter with your resume to each of your contacts. This is the broadest way to use your network and can be useful if you are currently unemployed and not worried about jeopardizing your current job by visibly pursuing a new one.

A targeted approach to networking can be even more effective. Find the specific need you have and then contact people who are able to help you reach that specific job goal. The more specific you are about what you need or what you are looking for, the more likely you are to get what you want.

For example, if you see an advertised opening for a position, go through your contact list and see who might be able to provide you with access to the hiring manager (or someone else who works at the company), information about that specific company or industry that is not available online, or information about the specific position you are seeking. Of course, do not expect to get proprietary information, but you may find out things that are not on company or industry web sites.

You can ask contacts to make an introduction to a hiring manager. Contacts may agree to introduce you to hiring managers, or they may pass along your resume. Some companies even have formal referral programs where employees receive incentives for introducing people that get hired and stay.

LinkedIn and other social media can help.

Social media can also be effective for helping you achieve your networking goals. You can let your contacts know you are looking for a new position by posting status updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other platforms. This is another valuable strategy when you are not employed and have no concerns about the boss finding out you are seeking a new position.

You can also research potential connections using social media. Use Google to find out if the person has a LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, or other social media account.

LinkedIn is particularly effective in helping you take your existing contacts and leveraging them into even more networking opportunities. You can see how you are connected to a company or another individual using LinkedIn.

Use social media to arrange in-person or Zoom get-togethers. Technology makes networking easier, but face-to-face interaction is still the most impactful.

Concluding remarks

Regardless of your approach to growing your contact base, you will get a job faster by using a network of personal, business, and professional contacts to spread the word about your excellent work.