Connecting, Not Applying: How Most Jobs Are Landed

Individual contacts are the best source of job leads. It is extremely important that you identify everyone who can possibly help you with your job search. Most jobs (nearly 80 percent) are found in some way through contacts. Also, better jobs are found through contacts and the best jobs, the ones with the highest pay and affording the greatest satisfaction, are most apt to be surfaced in this way.

Begin listing all feasible contacts you have available. This list will enable you to begin entering the job marketplace with the highest quality contacts possible. The contacts you now have can come from these major sources: personal, professional, business, and association and community.

• Business contacts can come from numerous sources: your last employer, previous employers, vendors/suppliers, customers/clients, consultants, competitors, members of business, professional and trade organizations.

• Personal contacts consist of your relatives, friends, neighbors, people on your card or gift lists, and friends of friends.

• Professional contacts are bankers, accountants, lawyers, doctors, insurance, real estate and stockbrokers, educators, counselors, and others in related areas.

• Association and community contacts consist of people you know who are involved in avocation groups, alumni organizations, foundations, charities, civic, social, religious and community organizations.

How to use each of these contacts takes some finesse—what to ask them, how to seek their help. The first step, however, is to document the names – as many as possible. The dknx Focus Meeting approach to contacts can guide you through the conversations and how to walk away with useful information and additional contacts.