Networking Doesnt Work

Networking Doesnt Work Or, maybe it only works for three out of ten people. Which means out of a hundred people, it wont work for seventy of them. Clarification (posted at 7:35pm MST on 4/18/08): Mark makes it clear on his website and in his comment that these stats are in a 90 day period so sure, maybe more people will be more successful in more than a 90 day period, but his point is that if you are going from zero-to-job in 90 days, the numbers apply. Thats pretty darn frustrating. Especially since Ive come to believe that two of the most important things I could do for my job search and/or career management include (1) network, and (2) develop my personal brand. And now I learn that networking doesnt work. Its not the silver bullet. If it were, there wouldnt be so many job blogs. There wouldnt be so many books on job search. We would all be networking maniacs, living givers gain, and oh what a different world we would live in! Where do I get this notion that networking doesnt work? Mark Hovind, who owns JobBait.com (and sponsored my rebranding contest thanks Mark!), has it all over his website. Heres how he breaks it down (you can see this on his left menu): Going Direct 85% Networking 30% Outplacement 25% Recruiters 1% Job Boards 1% Resume Posting 1% Im not sure how he came up with these numbers, but Ive been chewing on this concept (specifically, networking to a job) since I first talked to him months ago. You know what? I think I agree. Heres why: Most people do not have a real network. I didnt, when I got laid off. I had not nurtured relationships, and was not prepared to approach hardly anyone for my new job search. My network contacts were all company and vendor and customer contacts, and I didnt realize that when you get let go its almost as if you have leprosy and people arent supposed to talk with (or help) you. So I was basically starting over. Most people dont know how to network. Pass business cards. Give your thirty second pitch. Shake hands, give a job lead, introduce me to someone you just met. these are all good things, but they can (and usually are) superficial. I cringed at thinking of networking with the unemployed person until I read Never Eat Alone. That book was my #1 must read to get my head straight with regard to networking. Most important paradigm shift for me? The concept of an intimate relationship. Most people dont follow up. Getting beyond that superficial stuff beyond that first point of contact, or the second point of contact, and work on a strategy that includes following up. Did you know that if you send an interviewer a thank you card you will stand out? You may be the only one who sends a business card. Guess what in a networking environment, if you actually follow up with someone you meet, youll stand out! Because most people dont! Most people think growing their network list is networking. Get more business cards. Or collect more LinkedIn contacts, Facebook Friends, Plaxo contacts all the data. My network is big! I have 500 first degree contacts! Connect with me and Ill give you access to my 8 million connections! Those 8 million connections are worthless, as far as relationships go. Its not just about how wide your network is, or how deep your network is, but also how strong each relationship is. So what do you think? Is Mark Hovind right? Are only three out of ten people going to find their next job through networking? Are we so unsuccessful at finding jobs this way because (a) networking doesnt work, or (b) we are doing it wrong? I find this concept amazing and would love to hear what you think. Networking Doesnt Work Or, maybe it only works for three out of ten people. Which means out of a hundred people, it wont work for seventy of them. Clarification (posted at 7:35pm MST on 4/18/08): Mark makes it clear on his website and in his comment that these stats are in a 90 day period so sure, maybe more people will be more successful in more than a 90 day period, but his point is that if you are going from zero-to-job in 90 days, the numbers apply. Thats pretty darn frustrating. Especially since Ive come to believe that two of the most important things I could do for my job search and/or career management include (1) network, and (2) develop my personal brand. And now I learn that networking doesnt work. Its not the silver bullet. If it were, there wouldnt be so many job blogs. There wouldnt be so many books on job search. We would all be networking maniacs, living givers gain, and oh what a different world we would live in! Where do I get this notion that networking doesnt work? Mark Hovind, who owns JobBait.com (and sponsored my rebranding contest thanks Mark!), has it all over his website. Heres how he breaks it down (you can see this on his left menu): Going Direct 85% Networking 30% Outplacement 25% Recruiters 1% Job Boards 1% Resume Posting 1% Im not sure how he came up with these numbers, but Ive been chewing on this concept (specifically, networking to a job) since I first talked to him months ago. You know what? I think I agree. Heres why: Most people do not have a real network. I didnt, when I got laid off. I had not nurtured relationships, and was not prepared to approach hardly anyone for my new job search. My network contacts were all company and vendor and customer contacts, and I didnt realize that when you get let go its almost as if you have leprosy and people arent supposed to talk with (or help) you. So I was basically starting over. Most people dont know how to network. Pass business cards. Give your thirty second pitch. Shake hands, give a job lead, introduce me to someone you just met. these are all good things, but they can (and usually are) superficial. I cringed at thinking of networking with the unemployed person until I read Never Eat Alone. That book was my #1 must read to get my head straight with regard to networking. Most important paradigm shift for me? The concept of an intimate relationship. Most people dont follow up. Getting beyond that superficial stuff beyond that first point of contact, or the second point of contact, and work on a strategy that includes following up. Did you know that if you send an interviewer a thank you card you will stand out? You may be the only one who sends a business card. Guess what in a networking environment, if you actually follow up with someone you meet, youll stand out! Because most people dont! Most people think growing their network list is networking. Get more business cards. Or collect more LinkedIn contacts, Facebook Friends, Plaxo contacts all the data. My network is big! I have 500 first degree contacts! Connect with me and Ill give you access to my 8 million connections! Those 8 million connections are worthless, as far as relationships go. Its not just about how wide your network is, or how deep your network is, but also how strong each relationship is. So what do you think? Is Mark Hovind right? Are only three out of ten people going to find their next job through networking? Are we so unsuccessful at finding jobs this way because (a) networking doesnt work, or (b) we are doing it wrong? I find this concept amazing and would love to hear what you think. Networking Doesnt Work Or, maybe it only works for three out of ten people. Which means out of a hundred people, it wont work for seventy of them. Clarification (posted at 7:35pm MST on 4/18/08): Mark makes it clear on his website and in his comment that these stats are in a 90 day period so sure, maybe more people will be more successful in more than a 90 day period, but his point is that if you are going from zero-to-job in 90 days, the numbers apply. Thats pretty darn frustrating. Especially since Ive come to believe that two of the most important things I could do for my job search and/or career management include (1) network, and (2) develop my personal brand. And now I learn that networking doesnt work. Its not the silver bullet. If it were, there wouldnt be so many job blogs. There wouldnt be so many books on job search. We would all be networking maniacs, living givers gain, and oh what a different world we would live in! Where do I get this notion that networking doesnt work? Mark Hovind, who owns JobBait.com (and sponsored my rebranding contest thanks Mark!), has it all over his website. Heres how he breaks it down (you can see this on his left menu): Going Direct 85% Networking 30% Outplacement 25% Recruiters 1% Job Boards 1% Resume Posting 1% Im not sure how he came up with these numbers, but Ive been chewing on this concept (specifically, networking to a job) since I first talked to him months ago. You know what? I think I agree. Heres why: Most people do not have a real network. I didnt, when I got laid off. I had not nurtured relationships, and was not prepared to approach hardly anyone for my new job search. My network contacts were all company and vendor and customer contacts, and I didnt realize that when you get let go its almost as if you have leprosy and people arent supposed to talk with (or help) you. So I was basically starting over. Most people dont know how to network. Pass business cards. Give your thirty second pitch. Shake hands, give a job lead, introduce me to someone you just met. these are all good things, but they can (and usually are) superficial. I cringed at thinking of networking with the unemployed person until I read Never Eat Alone. That book was my #1 must read to get my head straight with regard to networking. Most important paradigm shift for me? The concept of an intimate relationship. Most people dont follow up. Getting beyond that superficial stuff beyond that first point of contact, or the second point of contact, and work on a strategy that includes following up. Did you know that if you send an interviewer a thank you card you will stand out? You may be the only one who sends a business card. Guess what in a networking environment, if you actually follow up with someone you meet, youll stand out! Because most people dont! Most people think growing their network list is networking. Get more business cards. Or collect more LinkedIn contacts, Facebook Friends, Plaxo contacts all the data. My network is big! I have 500 first degree contacts! Connect with me and Ill give you access to my 8 million connections! Those 8 million connections are worthless, as far as relationships go. Its not just about how wide your network is, or how deep your network is, but also how strong each relationship is. So what do you think? Is Mark Hovind right? Are only three out of ten people going to find their next job through networking? Are we so unsuccessful at finding jobs this way because (a) networking doesnt work, or (b) we are doing it wrong? I find this concept amazing and would love to hear what you think. Networking Doesnt Work Or, maybe it only works for three out of ten people. Which means out of a hundred people, it wont work for seventy of them. Clarification (posted at 7:35pm MST on 4/18/08): Mark makes it clear on his website and in his comment that these stats are in a 90 day period so sure, maybe more people will be more successful in more than a 90 day period, but his point is that if you are going from zero-to-job in 90 days, the numbers apply. Thats pretty darn frustrating. Especially since Ive come to believe that two of the most important things I could do for my job search and/or career management include (1) network, and (2) develop my personal brand. And now I learn that networking doesnt work. Its not the silver bullet. If it were, there wouldnt be so many job blogs. There wouldnt be so many books on job search. We would all be networking maniacs, living givers gain, and oh what a different world we would live in! Where do I get this notion that networking doesnt work? Mark Hovind, who owns JobBait.com (and sponsored my rebranding contest thanks Mark!), has it all over his website. Heres how he breaks it down (you can see this on his left menu): Going Direct 85% Networking 30% Outplacement 25% Recruiters 1% Job Boards 1% Resume Posting 1% Im not sure how he came up with these numbers, but Ive been chewing on this concept (specifically, networking to a job) since I first talked to him months ago. You know what? I think I agree. Heres why: Most people do not have a real network. I didnt, when I got laid off. I had not nurtured relationships, and was not prepared to approach hardly anyone for my new job search. My network contacts were all company and vendor and customer contacts, and I didnt realize that when you get let go its almost as if you have leprosy and people arent supposed to talk with (or help) you. So I was basically starting over. Most people dont know how to network. Pass business cards. Give your thirty second pitch. Shake hands, give a job lead, introduce me to someone you just met. these are all good things, but they can (and usually are) superficial. I cringed at thinking of networking with the unemployed person until I read Never Eat Alone. That book was my #1 must read to get my head straight with regard to networking. Most important paradigm shift for me? The concept of an intimate relationship. Most people dont follow up. Getting beyond that superficial stuff beyond that first point of contact, or the second point of contact, and work on a strategy that includes following up. Did you know that if you send an interviewer a thank you card you will stand out? You may be the only one who sends a business card. Guess what in a networking environment, if you actually follow up with someone you meet, youll stand out! Because most people dont! Most people think growing their network list is networking. Get more business cards. Or collect more LinkedIn contacts, Facebook Friends, Plaxo contacts all the data. My network is big! I have 500 first degree contacts! Connect with me and Ill give you access to my 8 million connections! Those 8 million connections are worthless, as far as relationships go. Its not just about how wide your network is, or how deep your network is, but also how strong each relationship is. So what do you think? Is Mark Hovind right? Are only three out of ten people going to find their next job through networking? Are we so unsuccessful at finding jobs this way because (a) networking doesnt work, or (b) we are doing it wrong? I find this concept amazing and would love to hear what you think.