I’m so tired of these so-called “experts” handing out excuses for why networking doesn’t work. “You’re not doing it right”. Well, what IS the right way? It seems to change every year!

“It takes time to build a network”. Well, then there’s no point in starting now, is there?

Brad, you seem to be a prime example of ignorance in action. And arrogant as well. “It’s not working? Then it’s all your fault!” You have no idea how “that Guy” handles himself in an interview, you’re just pissed because he expressed an honest opinion.

In my experience, when you hire someone who walks the walk and talks the talk, you usually find out the hard way you’ve hired a sociopath.

I thought I had better jump in here before this topic sucks the bandwidth of the internet up.

I’ll start with a favorite quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.”

“That Guy” clearly has a right to his opinion and one certainly cannot only read his job search frustration but feel it as well. I’d bet my 8 years of recruiting experience that in every conversation “That Guy” has, whether networking or interviewing, the other party senses it as well. It’s pretty caustic and problematic.

People that use terms like “arrogance”, “idiots” and “stupid” to describe others don’t have a job for a reason. Any skilled interviewer will pick that up in a heartbeat. Plus do you want a person with those feelings in your network?

I’m not going to get into the studies and numbers since my college economic days taught me you can pretty much make the stats support any argument.

In this past meltdown, I’ve worked and counseled quite a few mid-level executives most with 15+ years experience. Almost everyone had the same story and here it is;

“I’ve never really had to do a job search.”
“I got all my positions from word of mouth, by following my mentor or getting a call from a recruiter.”
“I know everyone in my industry.”
“I’ve never had to have a resume.”
“I don’t believe in networking.”

I usually get silence when I ask, “Well, if you know everyone, why don’t you have a job?”

Job search has changed. Employers at all levels have more options to find talent and increased access to incredible amounts of information. Job seekers are more sophisticated in their search.

A Rolodex or stack of business cards held together with a rubber band isn’t a network. Networks take time and more importantly effort to build and nurture. To the “poor” job seekers that are convinced that their attempts to network resulted in them “being sucked dry” they got what they deserved.

They only started to network to get a job. They expected to “get” something in return for what they gave, strings were attached and now they deal with the inevitable disappointment. The “why them, not me” mentality speaks volumes.

I always advocate having a quiver of arrows and several methods of delivery, meaning you use a number of tools to get the job done.

Networking is the short bow, done properly, it is a targeted effort to increase who you know and leverage who they know.

Mass anything is the long bow; you shoot a lot of arrows up in the air from a great distance and hope one hits something. Sometimes you do.

My favorite is the cross bow but I’ve written much more than I planned. Can you tell I’ve had too much coffee already?

The notion that “it works when it’s done right” is pure, unadultered arrogance; trite words spoken out of ignorance and lack of perspective. There are complete idiots with no demonstrable skills whatsoever landing jobs right off the bat with no networking effort, while skilled, accomplished and intelligent people have a hard time finding work whether applying directly or through networking.

It isn’t that “networking is done wrong,” it’s that 90% of employers are lead by people undeserving of any kind of decision-making position. They’d rather pay more to support unemployment through taxes than to actually hire people, so even from a cost-saving perspective, the idea of cutting and locking out jobs is a stupid one.

Networking isn’t just job searching. Networking is for your life. I network for my business, but I also network for my clients. My network contacts provide great resources for me to learn from and from which clients can build their own networks. I truly enjoy sharing the resources available to me with the people in my network.

There are so many ways to learn how to create a great network. If a person’s network isn’t working, as many of you said in your comments, it’s because you don’t know how. So learn! Your network may not be working because the network isn’t in place and/or you aren’t isn’t supporting and contributing to it.

Keep in mind that a network involves “give” and take—the operative word being “give.” Networking is a shared experience, not a “what’s-in-it-for-me” experience.

Also, it’s not just building a list of names. It’s quality vs. quantity. You build a network with people with whom you have developed positive relationships. If you’re network is working for you, then shift your thinking.

Think quality vs. quantity. Choose to network with people and organizations with whom you can build quality relationships.

Think about giving vs. getting. Whether or not you’re looking for a job or in need, you still have information, kindness, and qualities to offer. So offer them!

Start your network now, before you need it. Get to know people who are doing interesting things. Build mutuality among the people you admire and respect.

Learn, grow, and expand from their knowledge and share your own. Make it work! It’s a process–not a magic remedy for getting what you want.

I would like to concur with many of the others that have replied to this post. I DO believe in the power of networking, and that is can and will work. The problem, as with all relationships, is that the only way a network will help is if it is nurtured and strengthened over time. Expecting to be able to meet someone one day and have them refer you to a position the next is a nice thought, but unrealistic.

So also unrealistic is Mark’s statement of “going direct”. The problem with this belief is that it means you must know the contact/hiring manager at each location, know how best to get them to look at your information, and then do it over again thousands of times. I have never been impressed by any system that sends out a scattershot expecting responses. If they are not targeted, if there is no connection to help make the contact, and if there is no relationship with the hiring manager then you may be wasting your time.

I think the reality of any job hunt is this: as with any other business, diversity is the key. Is it good to base all your work on networking and building your base of collegues, irresepective of any other avenue? Absolutely not. Should networking, along with some direct contact, job board searches, and other methods of activity be the plan? I think absolutely yes.

Will networking work? If it doesn’t, millions of people are wasting numerous hours on social networking sites each and every day. If it does work, and I think there is evidence that it does, then the proof will also be in those same networking sites and the prople who support them.

Barry

I’m a little late to the party, but I thought I’d throw in my two cents:

According to Irrefutable Law of Unemployment #2: “It’s better to have a network in place before you need it than trying to build one when you do.” This meshes well with the 90 day statistic. It also blends well with the assertion that most networking efforts seem superficial.

The fact is, most network only when they need a network already in place. Most of us have made that mistake. Unfortunately, many repeat that mistake again and again. Trying to build a network when you actually need to leverage it causes desperation and an air of the superficial.

That’s why you, me, and the rest of the job search experts in the blogosphere stress that networking is an on-going process. It shouldn’t begin when you get a pink slip, nor should it end on your first day at the new job.

For those reasons, I agree that short-term networking does not work. Networking usually needs a longer tail, but given time turns up more qualified leads and targeted interviews than other methods.

- Mike

Networking is about relationships. If your networking is about trying to win a job, you are less likely to succeed.

Finding a job is not about who you know, but who you can get to know and how much they care about you.

I’d be really interested in learning updated stats on networking and job seeking. In my estimation, online opportunities to connect are moving us more and more to a relationship-based environment. It is hard to believe that networking doesn’t contribute to MORE successful job searches rather than less.

Miriam Salpeter
Keppie Careers
http://www.keppiecareers.wordpress.com