Networking for the Novice, Nervous, or Na?ve Job Seeker

The advice is consistent -- Networking is key to any job search!

The statistics are encouraging -- nearly 80% of job openings are never advertised and more than two thirds of candidates get a job through networking.

The bottom line is discouraging -- the majority of job seekers spend most of their job search time sitting at their computer navigating through various employment sites and responding to advertised openings.

Why?

In a nutshell-- fear. Fear of rejection, fear of the unknown and fear of trying things out of your normal comfort zone. Combine that with a lack of understanding of how networking works during the hiring process and it becomes easy to see why the job candidate finds a greater comfort level behind their computer screen. But, this strategy only exposes them to a limited number of opportunities and since all job seekers use the classifieds and job boards, they face the highest level of competition.

The best news of all is that you can benefit from networking during your job search. Networking can provide the foundation for your job search, support each area of your search and also provide you with opportunities to expand your horizons throughout your career.

Tom Dezell has twenty-five years of experience in the field of career development. He earned his BS in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University. Tom is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Adjunct Faculty member at the Community College of Baltimore County. He lives in Bel Air, Maryland and has two great sons."