Here are a couple of eye openers, if you don’t already know this about networking: 85% of jobs are filled through networking, according to HubSpot. And according to CNBC, 70% of jobs are never even published publicly. (Frankly, that only may have been true 20 or 30 years ago – when company websites and online job boards were things of the imagination.)
And yes, I just did a Google search and I’m using these numbers because I found them in the very first search result; I’m such a prolific researcher, aren’t I?
To be fair, that 70% figure is more myth than reality – the number, according to Katherine Hansen, research and development scientist, is closer to 38%.
Whether it’s 70 or 38 percent, it stands to reason to figure out how to capitalize on this goldmine of opportunities. You know, just in case the traditional route doesn’t work out the way it should, or in case it ceases to be appealing. You never know the reasons. Here’s how to do it:
Get over your aversion to networking
If you’re an outgoing extrovert who has zero problems shooting the breeze with employers in, say, a more casual context, you have my blessing to skip this section.
For everyone else (i.e., introverts fidgeting in their seats right now), here’s a mindset shift that’s going to help you:
Networking doesn’t have to be this exhausting act that takes up all your mental bandwidth and be this strategic game we make it out to be. Whether you know it or not, you’re always connecting with others all the time; a text message that you send to an acquaintance, meeting with your friends for a fun time out on the town, or even a brief conversation at the coffee machine with one of your coworkers – all of those are different forms of networking.
Treat strangers like close friends. Don’t be afraid to joke around with them, and even throw in a little self-discrimination here and there; show them that you’re a down-to-earth kind of guy or gal. Needless to say, the extent to which you’re able to do either without facing public embarrassment (God forbid) depends on a whole lot on context. So make discernments and always be aware of what’s going on. If you do that, you’ll be good to go pretty much the entire time.
Note: I’m not going to act as though a few lines are going to magically transmute your fear into head-held-high confidence. If you’re committed to meeting people without fear, there’s a lot more work to be done. I’d recommend starting here.
Don’t just make connections haphazardly
Connect with the right people. Find the ones with whom you can see potentially a long-term, lasting relationship. Ideally, you’ll want to start learning how to enjoy the activities taken up by them (or not, you can pretend – if you like). There’s a reason why so many business deals happen on golf courses in TV shows and movies; it happens in real life, too.
The point is, you want to be in close proximity with the right people and share with them the stuff they enjoy. And don’t be afraid to make big changes in your life if you know your chances are high. Sometimes people move close to where they want to get a job, before they even get the job.
Join different networking groups
Try them on for size. You’ll probably find that some groups are easier to mingle with than others, and that's fine. You're not meant to be close buddies with everyone. Your goal is to find the people you can click with, and then proceed to find a way to click with them.
Once you're past that point, finding a job through a referral will be as easy as asking a friend.
Much simpler than the usual battle of wills that goes on with typical job applications, no?
Be a person people want to connect with
Networking isn't just about initiating connections with people; it's also about becoming a people magnet. In fact, if you were to eschew all the above instructions and double down on increasing your value, your chances at getting a job or a referral are going to be orders of magnitude higher. It's really that simple.
Granted, simple doesn't mean easy. Turning your life around and jazzing things up doesn't happen overnight, and nor could it. It's the small things you do -- i.e., habits -- that add up every single day that change you as a person and make you a higher value individual.
So, live a more interesting life. Take up new hobbies. Pick up old hobbies. Take a hike and explore the uncharted parts of your city, or even country, if you're feeling adventurous. Meet new people. You never know if the next person you meet could be a new friend. Stop binge-watching Suits on Netflix and start reading books that few people know about. Hit the gym. Enrich yourself with wisdom (like you are now). You know the drill.
It's a marathon, not a race
That is, don't rush the process. It's exciting, but, alas, mistaken to assume that you'll be able to see immediate change once you apply this stuff. Making big changes takes time and effort, never mind making them stick. Needless to say, this is not to dissuade you from having high ambitions in life, but to keep your expectations in reality. That way, you'll go in with a lower chance of feeling disappointed or wanting to give up because you had a realistic timeframe for what you may achieve in a particular amount of time.
Here's a quote from a world-renowned self-help guru that reflects this: “Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years.”
I know that's not terribly specific, and that you need more details to get what I'm talking about -- but trust me, all you need to do is to get started. Once some (or a lot of) time has passed and you return to this section to reread it with wiser, more experienced eyes, this will make much more sense. God knows, it's something I've gotten around to internalizing myself pretty recently.
Want to learn more about networking? Check out our blog for more info!
