We often focus on networking as a way to uncover “hidden” job opportunities. And, there really is no better approach!
But are there other benefits of networking? You bet there are.
Just the other day a client was telling me about his exciting new position; the job of his dreams! It turns out that he found his job online but that the secret to getting the position was networking. Having initially located the opening and applying online he didn’t stop there.
By working his network contacts and using LinkedIn he was able to find several people who could tell him more about the company. He was even able to talk to a reporter who had written about the organization.
And he found several people who had worked in the same office. They were an invaluable source of information about the culture and even about his potential new boss.
In short, he became very knowledgeable about the company. And he used that information during his interviews. He was able to relate stories from his prior jobs that showed how his skills and experience that would be useful to the new employer. And, by the way, his former employer was in a very different line of business.
So who couldn’t resist hiring someone so well informed? It made their choice easy.
So don’t stop after applying for the job. Use your networking skills to actually get the job!
