How Networking Can Improve the Chance You Get a Job

Right now, there is something that is revealed only to the few who
know the right people to talk to. It is the hidden job market. Up to
80% of jobs are not advertised. They are found through recommendations
from existing employees, from recruiters, through trusted friends and
sometimes from the employer directly knowing the candidate. Whichever
one of these routes the job information comes through, they all depend
on the size, strength and reach of your personal network.If you're not
networking, then you're only seeing 20% of the current job market.
While some statistics say it's only 50% of jobs are hidden, you are
still able to at least potentially double the number of jobs
available. Just increasing the odds will help a job seeker, especially
in today's difficult economy. You don't want to pass up the
opportunity to have access to more jobs.Another consideration is that
you might be more interested in the type of jobs that aren't
advertised. While there's no specific research showing that they are
in a certain area, you might be more interested in the kind of
employers who don't advertise. Government agencies and those who take
certain types of grant money may be required to advertise. You might
be required to take exams and the process may be longer. The kind of
company who doesn't have to advertise, and who prefers to use
networking to find employees might be more agile, less tied to
paperwork and more likely to have stronger relationships between
employees in the organization.But there are other ways that networking
can speed up your job search. It can also make it more likely that you
get the job you are looking for. When you build a network, not only
are you finding out about more jobs, but also you have access to more
information about the company, the position, and possibly even the
person who left the job. If you make it to an interview, this kind of
information can give you an edge during the meeting with the potential
employer.There's another benefit to networking that can help you even
when the job is advertised. What if someone you know saw the ad for
the job position or knew someone in the company who told them the job
was being advertised? If you know your contact well enough, they can
hand deliver your resume and application, along with a great personal
referral. Your resume will certainly stand out among the potentially
hundreds of other applicants.Because so much of the job market is
hidden, networking is one of your best strategies possible for finding
a job opening. It can improve the chances that you learn about jobs
and can certainly improve the chance that you get the job.