When it comes to landing your next job, the number of applications you submit isn't the best measure of progress. Instead, the true litmus test is how many conversations you have, according to a new study by Harvard researchers .
Following ten years of interviews and research involving over 1,000 employees ranging from high-level corporate executives toChipotle kitchen supervisors, Harvard scholars discovered that individuals who manage career shifts effectively share a crucial ability: they are adept at building professional networks.
Although it may not be a cure-all solution, networking can assist you in evaluating potential opportunities more effectively and prevent you from accepting a position that turns out to be unsatisfying, according to the authors.
"Individuals often rush to join platforms like LinkedIn or various job boards, hastily sending out their resumes instead of engaging in conversations with employees from the organizations or departments where they’re seeking positions," explains Michael B. Horn, who is one of the co-authors of this study. Make It. Securing employment is far more about interpersonal connections than most realize; searching for the ideal job on the internet typically does not lead to the perfect match, despite potentially resulting in a job offer.
"The Job Moves" is a newly released book co-written by Horn, who lectures at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education; Ethan Bernstein, a professor at Harvard Business School; and Robert Moesta, the CEO and founder of the consultancy firm The Re-Wired Group.
Networking has become "increasingly crucial" in a job market inundated with ghost jobs , AI-driven candidate screenings along with resumes generated by ChatGPT, Horn notes.
He points out that employers lack strong confidence in how well resumes submitted via online job posts reflect a candidate's true abilities, experiences, and suitability for a position in this era of artificial intelligence. Often, they revert to traditional methods—possibly relying on them even more than before—which involves waiting for qualified individuals to be recommended through professional networks.
Studies indicate that recommended applicants have significantly higher odds of securing employment when contrasted with individuals who submit their applications directly via job postings or recruitment agencies. recent report From Paradigm, a diversity strategy and consultancy company, the data revealed that recommended applicants had over a 4.5-times higher likelihood of getting hired.
How to make networking seem less 'uncomfortable'—and be more effective
Horn acknowledges that many individuals find networking to be "uncomfortable and intimidating," yet he believes this process can be made simpler.
Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at MyPerfectResume, suggests the following strategy Compile a list of job openings you’re truly enthusiastic about, then contact the hiring manager, recruitment team, and potential colleagues through email or LinkedIn.
Once you make contact, be sure to introduce yourself, point out that you have submitted an application, share how your values align with those of the organization, and propose setting up a meeting over coffee, whether face-to-face or via video call.
These connections can offer you exclusive perspectives about the organization and the role, potentially enhancing your likelihood of getting selected and eventually offered the job.
You don’t necessarily need to reach out directly to someone within an organization you’re interested in to benefit from networking. Often, discussions with people who hold roles or work in industries that intrigue you—regardless of their specific company—can provide more candid perspectives, according to Bernstein.
Bernstein suggests that one of the most insightful queries you can pose during such discussions is: "How would you persuade me to take this position, and how would you convince me not to accept it?"
This query delves into the core advantages and disadvantages associated with a position.
Ultimately, informational interviews "It offers an opportunity to determine if the role truly aligns with what you aspire to do, and if it matches your current values and priorities in life," explains Bernstein.
If you engage in numerous networking discussions without identifying any possible warning signs, "you might be conducting them incorrectly," he says. "[By recognizing what you don’t desire], you also gain insight into what you truly want in your career."
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