Preface:  My job search took place during the height of the recession, and although unemployment is currently declining, there are still too many who are out of work.

An article I read during the summer of 2009 stated that for every one job opportunity, there were five people out of work and ready to fill that position. The article also compared job search to a game of musical chairs. It was an interesting analogy, however, I did not agree with the analogy then, and I still disagree with it today.

Job loss represents a change in your life.  The stability of a daily or weekly routine is replaced with uncertainty.  Unemployment insurance and savings are now your lifeline, and you must learn to live on diminishing resources.  Your employment search, in turn, becomes a fight for survival, similar to the way our ancestors had to hunt for food and shelter in order to survive.  In both cases, the only way to succeed is to be among the most fit and cunning. Those who are equipped with a strong set of survival skills will always succeed, no matter how demanding the environment is.

It was in that spirit that I wrote the following piece:The Importance of Networking…

  Recently, there was an article written which compared the job market to a game of musical chairs; the chairs represented employment opportunities. As those chairs disappeared it became harder for those playing the game to find them. While this was an interesting analogy, my perception is different.

  We are grown-ups now, and in today’s world, the game of musical chairs is past tense. We are in a challenging economy, and a far better way of looking at the market rests with those who hunt game for a living. Just as decreasing natural resources result in less game for the hunter; the current economic environment results in fewer jobs for the job hunter. So what we are left with is not a child’s game, but a very adult game where your hunt is hindered by diminishing resources.

  In the game of musical chairs, you will never see children use networking strategies to find a seat when the music stops. In the world of the 21^st Century, however, networking strategies are a key component to a successful job search.

  Here is a good example. Chad, a close friend, told me that he was close to choosing a candidate for an open position. After much thought he settled on a candidate who met the job qualifications and seemed to mesh well with the corporate culture.  Prior to giving his candidate of choice the good news, he received a phone call from one of his business associates. The conversation went something like this:

Chad:  Good Afternoon Larry. Normally I do not hear from you this late in the day. What’s up?

Larry:  Chad, sorry for the late call, but I think I can help you. Did you choose a candidate for your Marketing Manager position yet?

Chad:  I am just about to. I picked someone who is intelligent, intuitive and seems to mesh well with the rest of my group.

Larry:  Then I am glad I caught you. Chad, I have a favor to ask of you. Please hear me out on this!

Chad:  Larry, you’ve helped me out of some tight spots before. What can I do to help?

Larry:  Chad, before you settle on your candidate, I would like you to meet my friend Richard. I know that you have been working hard on choosing the right candidate. All I am asking you is to give Richard a chance. I feel he is one of the best Marketing Managers I have worked with. I know he would make a great addition to your team.

Chad:  Larry, you’re telling me this pretty late in the game. I have HR working on the employment contract for my candidate.

Larry: Chad, all I ask is that you hear me out. I really think you will like Richard. Please promise me that you will, at least talk to him. If, after that you still want to go with your candidate, I will understand. Just hear him out. OK.

Chad: Larry, as you have helped me in the past, I will hear your candidate out. Tell him to meet me here tomorrow at 9AM.

Larry: Thanks Chad. You will not regret this.

To make a long story short, Chad met with Richard, took an immediate liking to him and Richard was the one who received the employment offer.

Why did Richard get the offer? The answer is simple. Richard took his employment search seriously and used his network contacts effectively.  He did not view his employment search as a child’s game.  Instead of limiting his search to internet websites, he took a more aggressive path. After several phone calls and face to face meetings with people like Larry, Richard was able to forge a direct path to the decision makers. It took awhile, but his hard work paid off!

Richard’s job hut ended successfully. I hope your hunt is equally successful.

-By Howard K. Young, Contributing Writer & 405 Club Alumni

View all of Howard’s posts here.

Mime art by: Max Kostenko