How to use contacts to find your next job

There’s no doubt that finding a job in the current market can be challenging. With enormous numbers of applicants targeting available job openings, an application process that can be complex with automated systems and the requirement for job-hunt tools that span both on and offline, not to mention our ever-busy lives and the all-consuming demands on our attention. It’s not uncommon for job-hunters to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead or get disheartened by what can feel like continued lack of progress.

Whilst all of this is true, we’re here to tell you that there’s a more empowering secret behind the job hunt journey... and you might just be sitting on your own personal goldmine of job opportunities.

Yes, that’s right, the key to finding your next job, could be sitting with something you already have -`your contacts!

Whether we think of ourselves as active networkers or not, we all have contacts; people we have got to know throughout our lives, colleagues and ex-colleagues, friends or friends of friends, family, neighbours and members of clubs or groups. With social media, it’s become easier than ever to keep track of and speak to our contacts with platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook. Utilising the contacts, you have and the contacts within your reach might just be the secret weapon in your job hunt toolkit.

Not only do your contacts hold the potential to a wealth of job opportunities at your fingertips, but if you decide to put the work in to source your next job role this way, you might just find you have a better chance of landing the role in question. Industry research shows that making use of your connections is proven to be the most effective form of job-hunting.

?In a 2017 survey

·??????? Referrals are five times more effective than all other sources of hiring.

·??????? 46% of employees hired through referral programs stay for three years or more, (in contrast to only 14% of those hired through job boards).

This data supports the theory that hiring managers are more likely to hire candidates from recommendations and referrals as a more effective and trusted way to hire.

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How to turn your contacts into a wealth of job opportunities

So, you know some people, but can they really be relevant…and how do you turn them into your next great job role?!

Don’t panic, it might not seem on the surface like you have a wealth of people there ready to offer you a great job, but with the right approach and effort in the right places, you really will be able to open doors.

1. Talk to your contacts

The first step is to start speaking to your contacts. Make a targeted list of people you could speak to and start with people you know might have useful contacts or be most relevant to what you’re looking for and work your way through. Let them know that you’re looking for a new job and ask if they have any leads or advice. You may be surprised at how many of your contacts know someone who is hiring or have other useful information.

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2. Ask for introductions

If one of your contacts knows someone who is hiring or might be able to offer a foot in the door to a business or industry you are interested in, ask if they can introduce you. Having a personal recommendation is a great way to kickstart your way to new role and you are much more likely to make a good impression.

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3. Get to know your contacts

It’s best not to go straight in, asking for a favour, but take your time to get to know the people you already have connections with. Who are they? What are their interests, background, and family? When you take the time to get to know someone, it makes it easier to ask them for help, and makes the connection more valuable.

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4. Make it mutually beneficial

If you show your contacts that you're there to support and help them, and they will be more likely to return support. Once you understand what your contacts want, think about how you can help them. Could you introduce them to someone who could benefit them? Could you use your own skills and expertise to support them? Being in a place of mutual support is the perfect place to grow your connection and open to new realms of opportunity.

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5 Be clear on your desired job role

Before you approach a contact, make sure you know what you want from them. Are you looking for a specific kind of job? Is it an increase in responsibility? A career pivot?? It’s important that you talk about it clearly and confidently about what you want so that you can more easily communicate it to your contact.

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6. Consider the different ways a contact might support you

A contact might not be able to connect you to a new job directly, but it is worth considering other ways they might support you given the opportunity. Maybe they have contacts in that industry, or can make an introduction, maybe they have some industry or organisational knowledge that might be helpful or maybe they can provide a reference. There are many ways a contact might help – look out for the opportunities.

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7. Don't rule anyone out

Even if you don't think a contact can help you, don't rule them out. If you get to know them better, they may surprise you with what they can suggest, and introduce you to the perfect person for you. Until we start having conversations with people, we never know who or what they know or what opportunities might be around the corner.

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What to do when you are ready to grow your contacts

So, you’ve started with your own contacts, but you need to grow your network further. We recommend taking a look at our additional articles on networking for more detailed advice, but here are a few quick tips.

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1. Maximise your social media

Social media is also a great way to connect with potential employers. Use LinkedIn, X (previously Twitter), and other platforms, update your profiles, connect to relevant people to find companies that are hiring or that could be relevant and friendly enquiries.

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2. Attend networking events

Going to relevant networking events can be a great way to meet potential employers and build up your connections fast. Make sure you follow up with anyone who seems like they might be useful with polite and friendly communication.

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3. Join groups or professional organisations

If you’re looking to make connections within a specific industry or sector, the quickest way to do that might be to join professional organisations or groups. You can do this on or offline. LinkedIn can be a great place to find industry specific or special interest groups.

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4. Source second degree contacts on LinkedIn

One of the really useful aspects of LinkedIn is being able to access second degree contacts i.e. the contacts of your contacts. We will share more on this in future articles, but a few ways to do this are as follows:

• Join relevant groups
• Use the Advanced Search feature
• Connect with mutual connections
• Send personalised messages

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We hope that’s given you plenty of inspiration about the ways you can take your job hunt into your own hands and make use of a resource you already have. If you put any of these tips into work, we’d love to hear how you get on!

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Sources

Jobvite 2017 Recruiting Funnel Benchmark Report