Hi-octane Power of Networking in Job Search

Are you scrolling Sunday’s newspapers or some website for your dream job?  Let me tell you the jobs that you see advertised are just tip of the iceberg; they are not more than 2% of the total job market. You can give it a try, but if it’s not working; make networking your job search tool! Because almost 70% of all jobs are found through networking! Moreover, there’s a 90% chance that for a senior position, the company will hire through a referral!

How to use networking to find your dream job?” I know this question is buzzing in your mind now! Develop contacts! With everyone! Start with your friends and family and then expand your horizon to anyone who might help you generate information about the specific career and job leads that will be of your benefit. No, it’s not necessary that you will successfully find it in your first circle of friends, you’ll need to dig deeper and know your friends’ friend and their friends too. Most people you meet have at least 250 contacts. You’ll be surprised by the people they know.

It’s a small world. And here’s good news! The person you really want to meet, the CEO or decision maker of your dream company isn’t that far. Research says the person you really want to meet is just four or five people away from you! Only if you have the right networks.

So grab your phone now and call a friend. For fresh graduates, it’s a good idea to talk to their senior fellows, they can guide you with the right set of information in the particular field. You don’t need to hesitate, you can directly ask people about the job leads, but if that seems a hard task, you can ask for related information and advice.

Want to read more on networking? Read chapter 8 of The Craft of Selling “YOURSELF”.

Ms. Mariam Mahboob, a graduate in Economics, is a wonderful colleague of Ashraf Chaudhry. She loves to help people achieve more in career. She is based in Islamabad.

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