Some say "
it is what you know", others say "
it is who you know", but my mentor, Barry Forward says it best when he says "
it is who knows what you can do".
I am a reluctant networker, I've always been in the "
what you know" camp as being the most important thing, to the exclusion of "
who you know". But knowing how to do things really well is useless if no one else knows; this is a one-way ticket to being 1-dimensional when you are looking for a job. I've learned that networking is the best way to let people know what you can do.
Sending a resume off to a job posting is not a winning formula anymore. These days you need to
beat the bots (ATS) before a human being even sees the resume. Even then, a person, usually not the hiring manager, will scan the resume for 20 seconds to figure out if you even match the criteria of the job.
When at least
118 people apply to each job, your probability of getting an interview (not even the job) according to Workopolis is about 2%. These are not winning odds. This approach is traditional, but it is a 1-dimensional approach to your job search.
Look at it from the hiring manager's position, he has a pile of at least 118 relatively undifferentiated candidates that he has to sort through. What is his confidence that any of the people in this large pile can do the job? Hiring managers have buyer's remorse; they are worried that picking the wrong person will set back their credibility in their organization.
Now if someone recommends you to the hiring manager, suddenly you become 2-dimensional. This kind of recommendation will bring your resume to the top of the pile, even if the recommending person does not know you very well. As long as the recommending person has credibility with the hiring manager, you will become differentiated and rise up above the pile of 1-dimensional candidates. This will increase your chance of being interviewed, but does not necessarily increase the chance of you being hired.
However, when someone with credibility with the hiring manager, who knows you and knows what you can do recommends you for a job, then you become 3-dimensional. This direct knowledge of what you can do will allay the fears of the hiring manager, who will be extremely relieved to get a qualified candidate.
In fact, when a hiring manager finds out about you through someone who knows what you can do, you will probably get the job without it even being posted. In fact, only
30% of jobs ever get posted, 70% of jobs are filled before a public search ever takes place. In particular, the more senior the job the less likely it ever sees a formal job posting.
The key to people finding out about what you can do is through networking. Networking is about letting others know "what you can do", it may not pay off right away, but just as a new business in town must advertise locally -- so must you.
Not everyone believes in networking, there are many people that come from my background who believe that networking is not necessary. Networking with these people won't help you find another job. They will assure you that the best way to find a job is through job boards and recruiters. I have learned the hard way that most of the quality jobs that I have had were because someone who knew me recommended me to the hiring manager.
However, there is a significant portion of the population that understands the power of networking, and those people can help you to become known. So focus on people who believe in networking, they are eager to meet competent people. When enough people know "what you can do for them", finding a job becomes much easier.
So remember, network with the intention of becoming 3-dimensional...
