Networking is a waste of your time!

You go to all the Networking clubs and events and they pound in your head that networking is the way to find a job. Being an employer of a large company I find it quite bothersome for all the resumes that come in for positions that my company does not have an opening for. The resumes don't really get much attention since they are sent in HOPING to get into the door. With the volumne of resumes that come in without openings I can tell you that you are just wasting your time and effort. When the economy picks up...much more than it has in the past year, THEN that will be another story. It is like beating a dead horse.

Don't blame people for trying to get a job. There is nothing wrong with applying to a company that doesn't advertise an opening. I've gotten a number of interviews this way. Less competition than applying to advertised jobs. You'll never know when your next greatest employee-to-be will walk through the door. How about giving someone a chance?

How about you HR managers stop asking stupid questions in interviews? I've been asked so many questions that have very little to do with a job. Just ask about experience, skills and education. That's what really matters. Who cares about a person's weakness or where we see ourselves 5 years from now? Just because they told you those were great interview questions in college or some job hunting book, doesn't mean they are great questions.

I can understand your frustrations, HR Manager...but please try to give us some credit. The fact that there are resumes coming to you shows that we aren't all lazy slobs who can't get off our ass to find work.
And please, give those of us a chance. Those of us that are unemployed...we're human beings too.

I was constantly told to network for job openings. OK so my mother knows someone who works for a large company in my field. She said to apply and use her name on the on-line application but there was many lay offs coming due to a merger. 8 months later I hear nothing new from her but noticed new job openings in a few different places such as here and monster.com. I'm still waiting for a phone call, e-mail etc some follow up from someone.

I'm not going to confront her and embarrass her and say I saw all these new jobs posted but what happened to my job application. Yeah networking is a chance to find a job but its still a long shot.

Having been on both sides of the Interview table, I can agree with some of what you're saying. Sending resumes in for positions that don't exist can be an exercise in futility for the applicant and the employer.

However, networking is still one of the best ways find hidden job opportunities that may not have been published yet. The real benefit of networking is finding hidden job opportunities in the UNPUBLISHED job market.

Here's a great networking strategy I've used and others have used with me as an employer. When you're out networking, don't ask your contacts if they know of a job anywhere, ask them instead for their advice.

Go to those you know in your network and ask them if you could meet with them for 10-15 minutes so that you could ask them for "advice." Tell them you're exploring a new opportunity in the "widget" industry and you were hoping they could give you some advice about what they think about the future of widgets or what they might think about you getting involved in that industry.

It's also great time to ask them if they would critique your resume to see if you're a good fit for working with "widgets". Asking for advice won't put them on the spot like asking if they know of any jobs and you accomplish the same purpose-trying to find unpublished job opportunities. Not asking for a job makes it easier for others to "help" you by giving you "advice." Then at the end of this advice interview, ask if they know others that you might visit with to get more "advice". You're quietly hoping they know of job opportunities. This is a great way to network, ask for advice, get your resume out there in the widget industry and inserting yourself in front of widget industry decision makers with the hopes of finding unpublished jobs. Hope this helps

I think it was the HR people that disagreed. I'm not insulted. LOL

Networking is highly overrated also, and as a New York City job hunter I realized this back in the 80s and 90s. Further,I also get unsolicited emails from recruiters who found my resume on the job boards, asking if I knew any candidates to fill their openings. Isn't there usually some kind of a "referral fee" if they place someone I refer to them? Of course, how exactly would you go about collecting it from those maggots? Nobody ever talks about this referral fee, which exists in real estate and other sales occupations. Also, I'm beginning to believe that all these job boards are just there for the spammers, scammers, recruiter/temp agency trolls, and resume data mining.I have never got an interview as a result of being up there. Not in 15 years, while being in several different fields, all within 2 miles of New York City, the "city that never sleeps." All jobs I got on my own.

...Continues from above....
Just like DLP, all jobs I got on my own by either a)answering ads or b)resume w/cover letter "cold bombing" via fax, mail (old days when it was cheap), or nowadays, via email.
Besides, you feel better about this because you don't "owe any favors" to anyone with whom you network with.

Next time you get an unsolicited recruiter email or call, just ask them,..."I see, and how much exactly is my referral fee going to be and when would I be able to collect it?"

(Off topic for a sec, DLP, there is a great article in the Sunday New York Times about the investment return on law school education: www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/business/09law.html?src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB) I have a feeling you might get a kick out of it. I just had to throw this in.

Casey, not only that, but they are recycled by being posted over and over. I'm seeing the same job ads for 3 months now.

Is there one definite agreed-to definition of networking? There seem to be different definitions all over the Net as well as when speaking to people and asking them to define it. Isn't hitting a bar/restaurant frequently used as a hang out by people in one or more particular industries also "networking?" You sit somewhere strategic, evesdrop on a conversation and join in, then adding somewhere in that conversation that you are looking for a job or asking general questions about the field.

I heard that tactic is used by lawyers, salespeople and some Wall Streeters. They claim it works for them, but I don't feel comfortable with it.

The you read about the recommendation to join professional associations to network. Well, there are membership fees and other fees. If you're unemployed and worried about food, rent and other more dire expenses, who has the money for those fees? Who has the money to travel to those conventions, meeting or gatherings? A 2 way subway ride is $4.50 in New York. Non subway train service costs a lot more. $4.50 is nothing for someone employed, but it's something for an unemployed person. It's a meal.Seriously what are the actual odds that if, after you pay all those membership and other fees, you will actually network with enough people to bring your desired result of acquiring a job? So mostly networking really works for those already employed, as the success rate would be slightly higher. Humor me for a sec.

designer bee in Waukesha, Wisconsin said: How about giving someone a chance?

It is not up to me to give a person a chance or not. I have to follow company policy. Our company had a few rounds of layoffs, and others had to take pay cuts and had hours reduced if they did not have enough work. When someone leaves the company they are not always replaced. The duties are split up to several others that remain. Moods of those are not good at times. This terrible economy is hurting everyone in some way. Some way more than others. Just because people are working and have a job does not mean that they are happy. I even had one person who just decided to come in to "meet" with a manager. No appointment. The timing was bad as we had some very important meetings going on that week, and the person who has called many times trying to get in has overdone the networking thing which really caused me to write this message. Yes many people send resumes, but they do not keep calling every other month to try to get to talk with someone. We have ad a hiring freeze for a while and we could not even hire anyone. Yes it is rough out in the employment world, but I hope that it gets better for everyones sake.

casey45 in Georgia said: I put them in the same category as recruiters. Useless.

Me, too. I haven't had good luck with most of them. Whether it is those that are doing the interviewing or those that work for the company that you are employed at. They are too busy finding everything wrong with people and siding with the troublemakers of the company because they are afraid to disagree with them.

@HR Manager: I understand you can't hire if your company isn't looking or has had lay offs. What I meant about giving people a chance, is if there is an opening don't automatically look down at those that have been laid off. Remember, the shoe could always be on the other foot.

I know people are getting desperate and try everything to get a foot in the door. You can't blame them. I wouldn't never expect a manager to drop everything just to meet with me. That's bad manners. The job hunting books are the ones that tell people to call the company or to set up informational interviews. That seems to be a waste of time IMO.

Some of the best jobs are found by networking and getting out and joining groups. Politics in the work force is an established fact, and getting to know people without any obvious underlying agenda really can go very far. You have to learn to think outside the box, and see that when its all said and done its people working with people. You spend more time at work than anywhere else, so there is always the issue of differing personalities. You can learn a lot about people when you get to know them. Sometimes that is bad for some, but can be really good for others. During this time you might not know it but people are evaluating you. They are watching your reactions and how you handle certain situations. Don't think managers are not thinking about work even if they are out bowling with a group. This is a time to enjoy and to pay attention. If your the non sociable type, force yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. Take a chance, and if you fail, ask what you can do in the future to change. Be willing to change.
If you are out there don't become a pain to employers by hounding them, that is not going to work.

Also, don't expect them to call you. Take the initiative and call them. Don't hound them, but follow up with them. Expecting them to call you usually does not lead to employment. Taking the initiative is a quality that most employers are looking for.

You are right about the sales jobs.
One has to remember that with so many applicants and so many interviews you need to do more than just send a post interview thank you letter. You want to get your name out there, and you want to keep yourself fresh in the mind of your potential employer. Sometimes the process is very long, and when its so close, often the one who contacts them in the right way, sometimes by simply sending an email and keeping that contact fresh can lead to a job. It might not happen right away, but simply saying hello without hounding them can lead to a job that might open up down the line. It is a balance, and one has to be able to evaluate their potential employer and detect how far one can go. The ability to read people is a very important skill, which I am sure you understand with your profession.

No rebuttal needed, as this is not my intention. I certainly don't have all the answers, and I won't pretend to. It is tough right now and I can understand the frustration. I wish you the best, take care Sir.

MyCon, its a odd time right now, and I can imagine just how many people are without jobs, and the effect of that can really be stressing. Dealing with the idea of living on the streets is very tough. In some areas of the country its even worse.
If I am labeled or given a name that is fine. I have no ill intentions or any desire to argue with anyone.
I agree with you that we cannot think we are too good for certain jobs. Sometime we have to take a step back, in order to take two steps forward, or even just one. I am having to do that right now, but I try to keep a positive outlook. I continue to keep looking and applying to jobs when possible.

Hi Aaron,

Are you employed? It doesn't appear that you are. What's your field? If you are unemployed, how long have you been out of work?

I believe everyone here has been unemployed at least once & probably most here have been unemployed on a few occasions. Obviously & particularly in the last 2 or 3 years, it's heck of a lot tougher, even for the best candidate to find opportunities. I to, had to take a couple of steps back, took a couple of temp jobs, but eventually - Less than 9 months - I overcame my obstacles & now an idea type of job with a commensurate salary.

Here, or within other forums, it seems to be the unemployed against the employed or handful of people who have personal vendettas against employment or temp services and blame discrimination for every other issue.

MyCon,
I am employed, but I have part time hours. I have not had a full time job for about 7 months or so. I worked as a manager, although I have gone back to school to pursue a career in a field I love, which is natural medicine.
I am glad to hear that people such as yourself are finding jobs, and I hope that the situation improves.

casey45 in Georgia said: And it is different strokes for different folks. No one HAS to network. It is all a personal choice and that's all it boils down to.

Casey45,

You are absolutely right - No has to network! For that matter, no one has to have a job - Is this what you are implying? I don't think so!

We all have choices. We all have survival needs! We have things we want! Yes, some choices are made for us & they may be favorable or not so favorable. Ultimately though, it's still up to us to take these choices, circumstances or situations & make knowledgeable decisions to make better choices. Just because the economy sucks, there's discrimination in the workforce, employers underpaying doesn't mean that we can't find a way to overcome these or our obstacles.

It will take some work & a lot of effort, but it's doable!

When I was first out of work, I went to networking meetings. It seems like all I heard was things like people being out of work for 1 or 2 years, re doing the resume, never hear back after the interview etc. All negative things. So I stopped going. I heard that at one time employers would go there and offer jobs to people. Those days may be gone forever. I wish that they would, but they have nothing to offer us. If they do have an opening, work gets around very quickly and someone gets it.

Hi Gia & Others,

Being employed is a 2-way work relationship. If we have the "expertise", then we have a little more negotiation power seek more benefits & higher salaries from the prospective employer. This may be most evident with high-level paying types of jobs.

For most of us, we become employed to fulfill workload gaps or to provide a lower-level of expertise, in exchange for a paycheck & hopefully, some descent benefits.

bornfree in Arizona said: I tried networking and found it to be a waste of my time. I am just sick of people shoving it down my throat that networking is the only way.

Networking is not the only way! In most instances, networking won't get you a job either! It's partly intended for you to get out there & to see what the industry is doing from other people's perspectives. If you are lucky, you'll get a good lead to a prospective opportunity or someone else who may be able to assist.

Job searching involves multiple components. One component can compliment the other. It highly depends you work & how motivated you are to pursue.

HR Manager in Park Ridge, Illinois said: You go to all the Networking clubs and events and they pound in your head that networking is the way to find a job. Being an employer of a large company I find it quite bothersome for all the resumes that come in for positions that my company does not have an opening for. The resumes don't really get much attention since they are sent in HOPING to get into the door. With the volumne of resumes that come in without openings I can tell you that you are just wasting your time and effort. When the economy picks up...much more than it has in the past year, THEN that will be another story. It is like beating a dead horse.

Why are you getting resumes sent to you. Does your company have an ad? No? Are you sure?

HR Manager in Park Ridge, Illinois said:

lol, its helping greedy companies who want to make more money. They cut back as much as possible and then they think why is the economy so bad? Because in a bad economy all companies cut back at the same time. Until companies really start hiring again yhe economy will lag.

Hearing that some companies are making huge profits in 2010. How are they achieving that? By cutting workers salary & benefits and keeping the excess instead of re instating the wage cuts.

And by sending work to other countries who pay their workers 3 cents a hour.

Letting people stay in our country just because they were here a long time. They took away jobs that WE can do. They they call us with scams and really walk all over people. Some make money here, send it back home and when it is time for them to retire they go back to their home country and collect Social Security.

HR Manager in Park Ridge, Illinois said:

Boo hoo. Cry me a river. You have some nerve, throwing resumes in the trash, then coming in here to belly-ache about it. I'd wager that you and your colleagues are being paid way more than $7.25 to $10 per hour to be put upon in such a manner. This forum is full of professional people who would be glad to comb through resumes F/T for just a little more than $10 per hour. And they wouldn't be in here whining about it.

You should pray and give thanks you have a half-decent job, even if you're "overworked" and that you will not be looking for a new one before this DEPRESSION is over. Yeah. You read that right.

I agree with the OP with networking being a waste of time for the most part. But the op needs to realize it's his/her fellow HR droids who continually beat the drums about networking your way to a job. If you're networking to a group of strangers or casual acquaintances I'd say your results will be minimal. But if your best friend or relative has a slot open just for you then you're good to go.

Career-changer in Rushville, Illinois said: I agree with the OP with networking being a waste of time for the most part. But the op needs to realize it's his/her fellow HR droids who continually beat the drums about networking your way to a job. If you're networking to a group of strangers or casual acquaintances I'd say your results will be minimal. But if your best friend or relative has a slot open just for you then you're good to go.

The problem with most people is that they wait until they are unemployed to begin networking. You just end up being someone to avoid.

In this job market, you network (quietly) all the time because it takes time to build a good network.

When President Obama picked his cabinet, he knew those people or knew of them. He didn't run an ad in the paper and give them a typing test.

Well, I talk to people all the time. I know a lot of people. It doesn't mean those people are going to get me a job.

I think people network all the time without even knowing it. How often to you answer the question about what you do for a living? Lots of times. That's networking. I just never found it to help me much when I needed it.

designer bee in Waukesha, Wisconsin said: Well, I talk to people all the time. I know a lot of people. It doesn't mean those people are going to get me a job.

I think people network all the time without even knowing it. How often to you answer the question about what you do for a living? Lots of times. That's networking. I just never found it to help me much when I needed it.

Best thing is to read a few books on the subject. Some techniques will work for you and some won't. It depends on your personality.

I did get this job because I knew someone who knew someone.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, work in HR.

LOL IslandStyle.

Career-changer in Rushville, Illinois said: I agree with the OP with networking being a waste of time for the most part. But the op needs to realize it's his/her fellow HR droids who continually beat the drums about networking your way to a job. If you're networking to a group of strangers or casual acquaintances I'd say your results will be minimal. But if your best friend or relative has a slot open just for you then you're good to go.

A relative with a really good job couldn't help me get a job. If this guy couldn't get me a job then no one can.

Using Networks - The way to use your network is a) look for a company you'd like to work for that has openings appropriate to your experience/skills and then b) find out who you know who works there.
Meet with that person, find out why they like working there and ask if they'd be an appropriate person to give you a reference or introduce you to the HR Manager.
When you meet with the HR Manager, describe what your person told you about working there and how it reinforced your goal to work for that great company.
Applying to a company that don't have an appropriate job to fill is like throwing mud against the wall.

27 years as a Retained Search Consultant in Sonoma, California said: Using Networks - The way to use your network is a) look for a company you'd like to work for that has openings appropriate to your experience/skills and then b) find out who you know who works there.
Meet with that person, find out why they like working there and ask if they'd be an appropriate person to give you a reference or introduce you to the HR Manager.
When you meet with the HR Manager, describe what your person told you about working there and how it reinforced your goal to work for that great company.
Applying to a company that don't have an appropriate job to fill is like throwing mud against the wall.

That's quit the over simplification.

Excuse me, *quite

They tell you to talk with the hiring manager for an informational interview. If a company is not hiring they don't want to be bothered with such a thing. When they are ready to hire they will be flooded with resumes and will be able to pick out a good candidate that way.

Ross in Glenview, Illinois said: They tell you to talk with the hiring manager for an informational interview. If a company is not hiring they don't want to be bothered with such a thing. When they are ready to hire they will be flooded with resumes and will be able to pick out a good candidate that way.

That library book is long overdue. The informational interview went the way of the typewriter.

Informational interview is mostly a waste of time. Why drive somewhere to meet with someone knowing you won't get a job because there isn't an opening. Most places don't have time to waste with that. They have work to get done too and informational interviews aren't being productive to the company.

JD in Lynn, Massachusetts said: A relative with a really good job couldn't help me get a job. If this guy couldn't get me a job then no one can.

I know what you're saying. My fiance has a relative who's an exec with a large well-known company in this region but couldn't help her at all with getting a foot in the door, even as a lower-level clerk or whatever they call them these days.

Career-changer in Rushville, Illinois said: I know what you're saying. My fiance has a relative who's an exec with a large well-known company in this region but couldn't help her at all with getting a foot in the door, even as a lower-level clerk or whatever they call them these days.

You got that right. I know of somebody else who is a friend of the admin assistant to the VP for HR at a large local company. She passed on his resume right to the guy. You guessed it. Blown off completely. Not even the courtesy of an email stating that "so-and-so passed on your resume...and while I know she would not have if you weren't quality, we just don't have anything." There's just no professionalism at all. None. I can ALMOST see where OWS is coming from. ALMOST. lol.

I firmly believe that people should be hired because they are the best--not because they know someone! That is why so many idiots are in charge and so many companies are failing--because so many companies would rather hire the brother in law of the CEO with a room temperature IQ who can't speak proper English or someone's old frat buddy rather than someone with an exemplary track record, experience, and credentials. That's how it is in KY anyway--you have to know people. I'm taking note of the cities where some of you said that you couldn't get a job by networking and am planning on moving to one of those locations because I'm so sick of cronyism and nepotism that it makes me want to vomit! I moved here from FL and I never had to put up with that the "you have to know people" b.s. (I'm sure it existed but in my experience, it was not as prevalent)! When I got my last job in Tampa, I was brought into the interview because I had a good resume, solid experience, and I was qualified for the job--not because I was related to or was friends with someone. Since I moved here, I have found that if you didn't go to one of the private Catholic high schools or attend the mega church, you're pretty much sentenced to working as a janitor or gas station cashier or some kind of mind-numbing administrative position (usually being a slave to someone who is less educated and has less industry experience) no matter your education and experience. That, my friends, is bleak. Be thankful you live in places where you are given a fair shot.