The Key to Finding New Employment

April 2006

Use of the internet by Canadians is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world according to research by eMarketer, a leading source of data about internet, e-business and emerging technologies. But when it comes to finding a new job, Canadians continue to rely on good old-fashioned networking. Independent research by DBM shows that 12% (7400) unemployed Canadians surveyed in 2002 found new employment by using various internet-based resources. This statistic compared to 3% worldwide and 6% in the U.S., making Canadians among the world?s most prolific users of the internet to find new employment. Despite this growing use of internet-based recruiting and other online tools in Canada, 68% of the study group reported that they found new employment by networking compared to 42% worldwide and 61% in the U.S. Clearly, networking remains the number one tool to find new employment wherever you live and work. Networking is far more than merely passing your resume to friends and business associates you know and asking them for a job. It involves much more such as information, advice, a review of your resume, telephone numbers to call and a long-term relationship or connection with your contacts. Speaking with confidence, energy and commitment are attractive to people and will encourage them to refer you to others and cause them to remember you for the future. Doing your homework is also vital to effective networking. Get to know your contacts, their organizations and their industries to establish a substantive connection. For every ten minutes of time you spend with a networking contact, support it with ninety minutes or research and background on them, their organization and their industry. Understand through practice what you want to accomplish with each person, list questions to ask and identify in advance what you want to learn from them. Listen intently, keep good notes and be punctual. Remember to follow up with thank you note. You want to leave behind a friend who will remember more than just your name. Most networking occurs on the telephone so speak with confidence, get to the point quickly and don?t dance around the issue of meeting face-to-face with your contact or soliciting referrals. Networking is done at your contact?s convenience, not yours, so remain flexible to their needs and schedule. Most jobs are not filled by search firms or by recruitment advertising. People prefer to hire people they know or a candidate referred to them by someone they know and trust. This is sometimes referred to as the ?hidden job market? when, in reality, it is the real job market plain and simple. By John Withenshaw Senior Vice-President, Operations, DBM Canada IPM Associations Members Quarterly April 2006 Volume Four, No. 2