Does networking really help you get a job?

[Anonymous]

Networking will not get you a job but it will get your foot in the door. The rest is up to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems like everybody who posts asking for advice on how to get a job is advised to network, network, network. I have been on the hiring committee for my office for years, and I can't recall a situation where networking helped somebody get a job. People are always asking us to look at their neighbor or their cousin or whoever, but we just interview and hire the most qualified candidates. In the same vein, I am constantly getting calls from acquaintances about what I can do to help them get a job in my office, but if I don't know their work (and how would I unless it's a former colleague?), I'm not going to vouch for them. Do people really get jobs through people they met at some conference or cocktail party?

Networking pull me from my previous jobs because of better opportunities - this is when I wasn't looking but was approached. However, when I was actively looking for a job, networking did not help at all. So out of the 12 jobs or so, 2-3 were through networking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are lacking skills

That's ridiculous. I am a senior executive and at least 70% of my jobs have come from people I know from different settings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I refer friends constantly. Last year, I hired 14 people from my personal contacts.

For what types of positions? I'm a lawyer and would never hire someone based on a personal relationship. Maybe a previous work relationship, but not social.

All sorts. Mostly finance. They don't report to me. I get them the interview, they have to get past it. The interviews are highly analytical. Maybe 1 in 10 make it. I have no problem giving a friend a leg up to try their hands at it. They make it - they did so on their own merits. I only open the door.

Networking does not necessarily mean a personal or social relationship. It just means that you know someone. It could be from any setting. I happened to know some headhunters professionally. I met them through networking. That's how I got my last senior level job.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Why is this a question?