Are You Over-Networked?

In the job hunting world, networking is treated like the cure-all to job searching problems.

Here are some of the "statistics" on networking I found:

90% of jobs are not advertised.

65% to 90% of jobs are filled by networking.

Networking is the best way to find a job.

Talking to people working in your target areas is the best way to find out more about the reality of this type of job.

Approximately 20% of job vacancies are openly advertised in the press or on-line, while 80% are filled through personal networks.

Networking  prepares for interviews.

Networking to gather salary information.

Networking to enhance your career success.

Networking is vital for successful managers.

So what constitutes 'good networking'? Let's start out with what it's not. It's not contacting people asking for a job. It is about developing relationships that have the potential for mutual benefit. I have to admit that in the past I've found jobs through networking. I've had a former manager find me a position at his new company and I've had a former client give me a position at his company.

When I got into business school I learned about "informational interviews." This is the foundation to developing a new network. It consists of finding alumni working in areas of your interest and requesting a brief meeting where you ask questions about their career. You never mention that you are looking for a job. The intent is to learn about the industry and their company. If there is an opening in the company, your fellow alum will pass along your resume with a recommendation.

Now here are some preconceived notions people may have. First, the primary reason to go to business school is to develop networks. Second, alumni try to help each other out. Frankly, I sort of believed this.

So in the span of about a year, I've contacted around 100 alumni and had "information interviews" with about 50 of them (about 50 alumni never responded).  Most of them were polite. (However, few told me my work experience and education were useless.) For the most part they were ok but nothing led to an actual job interview. I know networking isn't about asking for a job. It's about developing a relationship that may eventually lead to a job. So with the alumni that I've actually had conversations with, I've tried to develop relationships. I sent additional emails with messages like "I saw this article and thought you'd find this interesting". (This is a common networking tactic and my school's career services recommends it.) The problem is that no one responded - not one. I figure people were busy so I emailed again a month later - nothing. Then I called these alumni. All of them told me they were too busy to talk. I thought networking works.

Well here are some lessons I've learned.

There is no clear consensus on how well "networking" works. How do you measure networking success? I've asked the career services department of my school how they derived "80% of vacancies are filled through personal networks." I'm still waiting for an answer.

The notion of networking is oversold by business schools. Again, if there is no way to measure it schools will spin it in the best possible way. (Actually, job placement stats are skewed upward by schools but that's another story).

During periods of economic crisis, networking suffers like everything else. If the people in your network are worried about their jobs, there is no way they are going to help you. (Side note: The alumni club in my city tried setting up an online alumni networking board. The intent was "alumni helping alumni." No one responded.)

I know a lot of this sounds negative - and it is. I'm letting you know that if you're having trouble with your job search, it's not your fault. It's the economy.