5 Networking Strategies in a Tough Job Market
Feeling anxious about finding an internship or a job is normal, but those thoughts can become amplified in a challenging job market. It can feel like opportunities are few or even non-existent—and that nothing you’re doing is working.
There's no denying the job market is challenging right now. However, opportunities still exist, and employers are hiring. It's more important than ever now for students and graduates to adopt a more strategic approach utilizing networking.
Networking can feel uncomfortable, which is why many students avoid it. However, this reluctance often comes from a misunderstanding. Networking is not about asking for a job; it’s about building personal connections that can lead to real opportunities and ultimately getting hired.
5 Networking Strategies That Work
Prioritize networking over job boards
Many students and graduates apply to dozens—if not hundreds—of openings online without hearing back or making any real progress. Relying solely on online applications won't yield results—it's networking that makes the difference. The fact is that approximately 70% to 80% of all opportunities get filled through networking, so it’s critical to spend less time applying online and instead focus on:
Building relationships with professionals and alumni
Conducting informational interviews
Asking for referrals
Uncovering hidden internship and job opportunities
Create a strategic networking plan
Networking should be a strategic, not random. Effective networking is more than one action—it is a comprehensive plan that involved many different networking activities. Students and graduates who intentionally create a networking plan will make more progress overall. Networking can mean asking for informational interviews with professionals in your field such as recruiters, alumni, and industry contacts, attending a career fair and introducing yourself to recruiters at targeted companies, or tapping into your college's alumni network. The goal is to build relationships that lead to insights, referrals, and opportunities.
Conduct informational interviews
Informational interviews are not job interviews, and they're not for asking for a job. Instead, they're conversations and casual meetings (virtual or in-person) with professionals to learn and gain valuable insights. In informational interviews, you can learn about different career paths, companies, and industries. Informational interviews not only help establish new connections, but they can also uncover hidden opportunities. While it may feel uncomfortable to request these meetings, they're one of the most effective networking strategies in a tough job market.
Find "hidden" opportunities
Not all internships or jobs are posted online. Estimates suggest that only 20-30% of all available positions are publicly posted, meaning 70-80% of job opportunities are effectively “hidden” from those who rely solely on job boards. The key to uncovering these hidden roles is networking. Many of our clients have successfully found internships and jobs through this approach. For example, we recently worked with an accounting graduate. After conducting several informational interviews, one of her contacts informed her about a full-time position before it was officially advertised, encouraging her to apply. If she hadn't been actively networking, she likely wouldn't have known about the opportunity or had the chance to apply and get hired.
Ask for referrals
A referral occurs when a current or former employee of a company recommends you for a position you are applying for. Only about 5% of all applicants use referrals, even though referred candidates are up to 15 times more likely to be interviewed and hired. Many companies even offer bonuses to their employees for referring candidates. In a crowded applicant pool, a referral is one of the best ways to stand out.
Summing it Up
About 70-80% of jobs are filled through networking, making it crucial to incorporate it into your internship and job search strategy, regardless of your career path or the job market.
Networking is more than one action or type of activity. Effective networking plans combine multiple strategies and are personalized and targeted based on your major, interests, and goals.
Networking can feel uncomfortable, which is why many students and graduates avoid it. However, with a clear plan and expert support, the process becomes less intimidating.
Students and graduates often discover that people are happy to help, and many professionals have their own networking success stories.
How We Help with Networking
While students and graduates are often told to “network”, they're rarely taught what networking is or how to create and execute an effective networking plan. That's why we guide our students every step of the way, developing a clear networking strategy, building their confidence, and helping them turn their efforts into interviews and job offers.
And as specialists who work exclusively with college students and graduates, we'll provide insider information on using your college or university’s built-in networking tools, such as AlumniFire and Handshake. We'll also teach you how to successfully connect with employers and alumni through events and programs like Employers-in-Residence. Overall, we'll ensure you have a personalized, targeted, and streamlined networking plan, resulting in better outcomes and faster results.
Our Networking Services Include:
Individual Career Advising Sessions
Internship & Job Search Accelerator Programs
College-to-Career Roadmaps
College-to-Career Consultations
Ready for expert guidance? Schedule a free consultation or contact us to get started.
