Now that I have decided to leave I'm getting ready to make the social rounds. The reality is that many jobs never make it onto indeed.com, idealist, monster, or craigslist, and many of the ones that do are posted by recruiting firms looking to build their search databases. Instead, I'm looking to (quietly) get the word out to my friends and acquaintances, particularly those I have worked with on projects, campaigns, and other volunteer activities.
That means meet ups to grab coffee. Or ice cream in some cases. My calendar is starting to fill up with mini meetings and catch up sessions to put out the word on my search, and reconnect with friends and former coworkers graduate school has stolen me away from. Already I've gotten some good suggestions and insight on certain jobs I am eyeing.
I've always been someone who networks for jobs. My former boss told me that when she realized she wanted to leave her last job, she knew her only hope lay in networking her way out of it. In her whirlwind social tour she went to 13 holiday parties: in one evening. This was for a pretty high level job in Washington D.C., a city that loves its trade association events, and where cocktail networking parties (and advanced degrees for what it is worth) are beyond abundant. While my efforts won't be this extreme, the point is that if you are looking for a job, you need to get out from behind the computer screen and start clocking some face time.
Even the academic literature supports the importance of networking to find a job. Studies on unemployment have found that weak ties, or acquaintances, are more likely to lead to job offers (Montgomery, 1992; Grannoveter 1983). Of course, there are also network implications for the turnover contagion that occurs when coworkers quit (Felps, et al., 2009). Ever wonder when you finally quit who will join you? You could start a mass exodus.
Photo credit: Pete Barr-Watson
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