Tag Archives: Job Opportunities

By John Sumser

It feels like you’re doing something wrong when work is hard to come by. Finding a job is supposed to be as easy as writing your resume, searching online for opportunities, sending in your resume, getting an interview, and then going to work. But if that doesn’t pan out, you’re supposed to be able to mine your network for opportunities. However there are often misperceptions and misunderstandings when it comes to professional networking and referrals. Below are three common myths I’ve come across:

Myth: Any referral can help

None of the myths about employment cover the fact that the economy makes a difference you can’t control. What I mean is that if your network doesn’t include access to growing companies and organizations, you are out of luck. For example, if you’re looking for a job in the auto industry, it’s going to be tough to find a job in Detroit no matter if you look for a job online or if you try looking for a job referral through your network.

Myth: Getting a good referral just needs a cocktail party

You need to create connections with people who have jobs or people who know them as a way of making your network work. But, shaking their hands, swapping business cards or meeting them at a networking event simply isn’t enough to make it play. A connection who doesn’t have all five of the following attributes can’t be helpful. A good person for a recommendation must:

• Know someone who has jobs and the authority to fill them;
• Be credible with that person;
• Be able to pledge her credibility on your ability to do the job;
• Know you well enough to bet her reputation on you; and,
• Believe that your behavior will reflect positively on her.

That’s a tall order.

Plus keep in mind that over the course of a lifetime, most people get to know a group of 300 or 400 people. Whether or not you can network for a job within that group depends entirely on how many people with jobs are a part of your circle or theirs. In many cases, there’s just nowhere to go. It’s a part of the class structure of our society that the people who have jobs are often not a part of the networks of people who need them.

Myth: Your network knows who you are and what you do

Jobs come from relationships and recommendations. But, there’s a nuance to this reality that escapes most people. It’s not who you know. It’s who knows you and what they know about you that really matters. That means that you have to find ways to give your connections direct experience of you, your work ethic and skills.

The best way to do that is an upfront exchange. Give your newly minted connections the chance to work with you. Tell them that you want them to know you as a worker. Offer them a no-risk 30-day free trial of your services.

Here are three ways to get recognized:

• Find out where they volunteer their time and become a volunteer there;
• Offer to come work directly for them at no cost or as an independent contractor for the trial period; or
• Place an ad on Craigslist to contract your services so that employers can find you.

NOPE! 
Any company that orchestrates a job fair will tell you that Job Fairs are a very effective resource to finding a job. 
I, on the other hand, will tell you they’re a waste of time. 
Job Fairs are built for companies, not job seekers.  Job Fairs are based on an advertising business model, which is precisely how the organizers make their money.  The model is not about getting people jobs; it is about creating enough hype and promoting traffic in order to entice potential clients to purchase space.  Simply put:  Job Fair companies sell advertising.  That advertising comes in the form of booth rentals, company sponsorships and print advertising.  The larger the space, the larger the revenue.  The larger the ad in the Job Fair directory the larger the cost.  Due to contrary belief, the goal of a Job Fair company is not to get people jobs, but instead to drive enough traffic to sell ad space.  

The advantage for companies is that it is an inexpensive way to promote and build brand awareness around your firm especially if you are always hiring due to attrition.   So for those companies that have a lower need for talent, this type of model gets them in front of many people.  These companies typically have a high turnover rate and need to constantly keep the funnel full of applicants.  For them the business model is bodies in seats.  After 30 days, if they retain 2 people out of 50, they consider themselves successful.  The point being, the next time you are at a job fair, look around the room and see what kind of companies are there.  You will typically find well branded companies with jobs that are not very appealing.  Because of the low cost of entry for these firms, there is limited risk and little importance placed on the actual candidates that visit the booths.  It is more about driving a consistent message to the public and yelling from the roof tops that a company is hiring.  Companies do not attend to find a specific skill set, instead they are there to speak with the masses.  

In conclusion, Job Fairs are about volume.  As a result, I cannot say there is any advantage for job seekers.  I would love to tell you that Job Fairs are a great resource to getting a new job, but it is simply not true.  Most of the opportunities are high turnover or  entry level where past experience is not necessary.  If you are just starting out in your career and have no idea what you want to do and have time to experiment, then by all means give it a shot and at least gain some experience of what Job Fairs are like.  Otherwise, if you are successful in your career, use your network, search firms, Linkedin, Facebook and other social media to spread the word and target real people at real companies with a real need.  The time you spend at a Job Fair could be spent digging up qualified leads to truly help you advance your career.  The goal is to find a career, not just a job.    

Now that you know the model behind Job Fairs you can decide for yourself if they are worth while.  If you get lured into a Job Fair make sure you are not wasting time and if you find that you are, just leave.