Social Network and the Job Search- The Rest of the Story

So, it's been almost a year (actually November 27th) since I lost my job and began the process of finding another one. Wow, what a roller coaster ride. Social media was an integral part of the process and, ultimately, the role I'm in today. Here's how it worked.

In the beginning,  I identified 15-20 companies that I was interested in exploring. After sending out messages to various contacts through LinkedIn InMail, I began to schedule phone calls and face to face meetings with many of my contacts and/or referrals. In the first week, I met with a recruiter, referred to me by one of my contacts. The purpose was not to see specifically what he might have available; it was to connect with him and see what contacts of his could help me reach out to the organizations I initially targeted. He connected me with some other contacts and I reached out to them.

This process continued through the following months. As I came upon opportunities, I leveraged LinkedIn to see if any of my contacts had links to the organization. In many cases, they were able to help me connect directly with people there. It was an excellent tool and I was fortunate to have a very supportive (and connected) network.

Eventually, I cam across a role from a recruiter that I connected with in the first few weeks. He remebered me and was recruiting for a financial services client, one that I had targeted originally, for an online digital effort. After a couple of intense, multi-person interviews with the client, I was hired and have been here since early April. And it all began within the first week of my search.

Unemployed Americans, ages 55 to 64, take a year, on average, to find a job, longer than any other age group, according to August employment data released Sept. 6 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. I was fortunate to find a great opportunity in my field in less than 20 weeks. I can honestly say that the combination of a great network, social media, and a willingness to make a "job" out of looking for a job helped make this happen. If i can do it, so can you.

Social Networks and the Job Search

I recently went through the difficult experience of losing my job. After only 7 months in the position, the company had a significant change in direction and a number of us were let go. I am currently looking for a new opportunity.

In the past, the job search would have gone something like this:

1. Grab the classified ads section of your local paper
2. Find potential openings
3. Mail resume and cover letter to potential employers
4. Wait for invitation to interview
5. Repeat  steps 1-4.

Today, with the plethora of online services and the ability to apply online, it seems so much easier than before. But is it really? Now, with the ease of applying online, potential employers receive dozens (if not hundreds) of applications. How can any one recruiter or HR person really deal with that quantity? The short answer is: they can't.

Other than a few friends whom I contacted directly, I chose to communicate my change in status through an InMail in LinkedIn. So my first reaction was not to begin applying and waiting but to reach out to my professional (social) network on LinkedIn. The response and support from the community has been terrific. It's made the process so much easier (emotionally) because there is a connection, most of which were a result of a face to face interaction. While it's hard to say where I will land and how effective this approach will be, I plan continue to use this tool as I explore any and all opportunities.