Why Isn't My Network Helping Me Get a Job?

One of our biggest pieces of advice to job seekers is to lean on your network to find a new role. Applying endlessly for random jobs posted online isn’t always enough to get your resume seen by a human, especially in today’s difficult job market when hundreds of job seekers are applying for every open role, and companies are hiring for fewer and fewer roles. 

Many of our clients come to us frustrated that they’ve tried leaning on their network, but to no avail. Their network isn’t helpful, they tell us. They’re all out of work themselves, or they don’t know anyone, or they don’t have the power to move the needle at their companies. And our clients feel completely stuck.

Sometimes, it’s true: You might not have the right network for the roles you’re targeting. If this is the case, you need to focus on building your network to meet more people who can help you. This takes time, but it’s a more effective use of your time than applying for 50 job postings a week, hoping one sticks. And before you worry that someone you don’t really know won’t advocate for you, consider that multiple studies have found that so-called weak ties are more effective at helping you land a job than close connections. If you make a really good impression on someone in an informational interview and nurture the relationship, there’s no reason to believe they won’t help refer you for an open role! It looks really good for someone to recommend a great hire – and if you’re applying for appropriate roles that match your skills and expertise, that’s you!

How do you build your network? Identify people who you want to meet. This should be a mix of higher-level people whose careers you admire, as well as people at your same level who work at your target companies, in your target industries (if you’re making a transition), or in roles like the ones you’re aiming for. Use LinkedIn to see if you know anyone who can make an intro. Even if you can’t find a direct link to that person, you can see if you have a connection who can introduce you to someone else at their company who may then be able to facilitate an intro. If you can’t find a direct link, you can always send a thoughtful cold email where you make a strong case for why chatting with you would be a good use of their time. 

If you have a strong network that’s just not helpful at the moment, assess how you’re asking for – and giving – support. Are you being clear about your ask? Often, job seekers tell their contacts they’re looking for work but don’t get into the specifics of what types of roles they’re seeking and why they’d be a good fit for those roles. It’s important to have a clear elevator pitch that ends in a very specific ask. Do you want a referral for a specific role? An intro to a new contact? A general meeting with someone on their team? If people in your network are struggling themselves, offer to help them, too. The best networking is always a two-way street.

Then, make sure you’re following up! If you reached out to someone in January about your job search and they didn’t know of any openings then, that doesn’t mean they don’t know of anything now. They may not know you’re still looking, or they may have forgotten what you’re looking for. Make a note to follow up every couple of months (or more regularly, depending on the contact). When you do, remember to make your new ask clear. Are you expanding your job search to include other types of roles you hadn’t mentioned before? Are you taking on consulting projects? Is there someone else you’ve identified that they can introduce you to? 

The toughest pill to swallow about this whole process is that it’s not usually straightforward. In most cases, you’re not going to reach out to a contact to grab drinks and talk about your job search and get hired the next day for an open role at their company. But if your contact sends over a job posting of interest, or shares a new tracking board they love, or introduces you to a new contact, or starts liking your LinkedIn posts to increase your visibility, that’s all help that could build toward a new job! 

It’s hard to keep the faith when you really need a new job. But the reality is, your network is instrumental to your job search, and your long-term career. Don't write it off just because the results aren't immediate.