1. Establish your network before you need to lean on it.
2. Givers gain.

People who follow those two simple things will find their job search is shorter and more fruitful. I’m living proof of it. While still employed I set an insanely aggressive schedule of 30 days to find a position and negotiate employment. Aside from my determination, I met my goal because I practice those two key points daily. I am happily in week two of my new position.

It’s important try to be of value to every connection you have – regardless of whether they are a recruiter or not. You’ll get equal value or more back from your network this way. Recruiters are great, I work with them all the time but ultimatley it’s best to network on your own…. it will get you far better results in the long run.

…. and Jason, you ROCK at adding value to all that you network with. Thank you!

“Now, I say they aren’t good at networking, but in fact they are excellent at networking as it pertains to their job. Don’t expect them to put their networking mojo on to help you figure out who you should talk to – perhaps I should say “recruiters aren’t really good at networking for you.””

You are right. And it is not just recruiters. So many people forget that networking is “creating a mutually beneficial relationship where both parties achieve more than they would have alone”. Instead they think it is all about them. Takers.

If you want a network to work both parties must be givers. And it is not just referrals. There are lots of things that people do to impact others. And the ones who say they are too busy are liars too. We can help others in some way.

Can you help everyone? NO. But those who are not helping some folks regularly had best examine their efforts to see if they are indeed selfish networkers.

You, Jason…. are NOT a selfish networker. You are a giver FIRST CLASS!

thom

My strategy relied heavily on two amazing resources:

1. Job Boards, which is where job postings are, and

2. Recruiters, who know where I need to go and can help me get there.

Boy was I wrong… I spent WAY too much time chasing those two job search resources.

Look were it got me. :p

It’s really a matter of BAD information/assumptions. Really, when I was in my job search I had read a single book or article, and didn’t feel I had the time. I was going to go get my job and get those paychecks coming back… so my ASSUMPTIONS really made an As_ out of me

I don’t understand why jobseekers have this image that recruiters are working for them. They aren’t!

I just had someone on the phone yesterday who was telling me about this recruiter that wanted to charge him $3,000 to get him a job. This recruiter was apparently telling him that he had access to the “hidden job market” and that only 2% of available jobs are advertised and he had “exclusive” access to the other 98%.

The unfortunate thing is that he would have done it if he actually had the money to spend.

Thank you for writing this. Hopefully, if we write enough of these pieces the word will get out.

I will definitely be sharing this post.

A must read article for job seekers, but I must also add a knee jerk response to your bolded headlines regarding recruiters “not caring” or “bad networkers.” I know that the rock stars of sourcing and recruiting really do care and are excellent networkers. I would suggest that like most generalizations there really are some bad apples who are lazy, cynical, deceitful and uncaring. They should not be seen as representing a talented group of dedicated professionals.