Step away from the job board. Seriously, I mean it.

The process usually goes something like this:

Stalk the job boards. Apply online. Wait. Hear nothing back. Repeat.

This is systematic, self imposed, repeated rejection and aligns quite nicely with the definition of insanity. Or self-flagellation. No judgement; it’s what the majority of us default to when in job search mode.

“You’ve got to network,” we’re told, “put yourself out there!” But what does that even mean? Awkwardly rubbing elbows while sipping cheap chardonnay? Getting click-finger carpal tunnel syndrome by requesting LinkedIn connections ad nauseam? Or by magically becoming an uber-extrovert who has no qualms about asking anyone and everyone for a job? Ugh. Ouch. Blargh.

Job search is a soul sucking enterprise.

Well, it can be. I’ve been on both sides of this coin. Actually, 3 sides of this coin (?). I’ve been a job seeker (multiple times), I’ve been the one doing the hiring as executive management in recruitment firms (multiple times), and last but not least I’ve been a retained search recruiter (once, briefly). So I have some ideas for getting over, or at least around, job search hurdles and this blog is my place to share these ideas with other job seekers. Because I’ve had a 360° view of the process, I know that many aspects of the search are challenging. Not the least of which is the absence of guidance out there.

Don’t get me wrong – I know there’s no lack of advice out there. You can find How To’s scattered all over the interwebs. But take a step back from that and think about it: we never take a class called Job Search 101, never go through training or certification; we’re never shown how to search for a job. Some of us might get outplacement services when we’re “let go” but the useful bits of their assistance boil down to 1) moral support, 2) a place to go to get out of the house, and 3) free coffee. So, is there a better way? There’s got to be, we just need to rethink the whole process.

Combing job boards is really just a passive way to feel productive.

So here’s my first idea: Kill the job board (figuratively, natch). I mean it, eliminate this from your job search activities. A measly 15% of people are hired through job board ads. 15%! And think about how much of your job search time is spent on job boards. I bet it’s a lot more than 15%. Probably closer to 80 or 90%.

It’s not just you, most people spend the lion’s share of their job search time on job boards. I know I’ve spent countless hours scrolling through listing after listing. Why do we do this? It’s because combing job boards is something we can do without stepping out of our comfort zone. It’s a passive way to feel productive. But it’s really not productive at all and that time can be put to such better use, it’s just a matter of learning what to do and how to do it.

So how do the other 85% get hired what should we do instead?

Going cold turkey is extreme, so start by taking one block of time (1 to 2 hours a day) that you’d normally spend combing job boards and replacing it with something that supports the #1 way people are hired: personal referrals. And what do we do in order to increase the chances of getting personally referred to a job? We network.

Easy to say but hard to know where to start. First, we need to redefine what networking is. Or simply define it. Most people think they know what networking is but if asked to say it out loud, find they’re not so sure. So how do you define networking? Does that sound like something you want to do every day till you find a job?

Here’s my definition: Networking is making repeated, direct contact with all sorts of people via email, social media, on the phone or in person. This includes former colleagues and bosses, subcontractors, suppliers, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, hiring managers, recruiters and industry experts. Just about anyone, really. You never know who’s going to be the key connection leading to your next job.

Here’s the thing, though. You need to be able to call on people in your network when it counts. That doesn’t mean you have to be best friends or in constant contact with them. What it means is that you know something about their interests and their professional life, that you are interested in how things are going for them, you keep in touch sporadically and help them out when you can. Even if you’re just sending a link to an article they’d be interested in or letting them know about an upcoming event in their area. People generally like to stay in touch unless you’re only contacting them when you need something from them. That’s when it gets *awkward*.

So here are some things you can do today that I guarantee will be more productive in the long run than doing the usual skim and click till your eyeballs are red:

Reestablish 5 old connections or friendships. Rekindle your acquaintance by sending a friendly “How are you?” email. Don’t mention that you’re in job search mode. You can do that later (subtly!) when they respond and ask what you’re up to. Practice random acts of helpfulness (with no expectation of reciprocation). If you come across a good job lead that is not what you’re looking for, forward it to someone you know who might be a fit for the role. Or snail mail an interesting magazine feature that you know would interest a former colleague. (Is it just me or is snail mail starting to feel cool again?) Boost your LinkedIn numbers. Import your contacts from Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, etc. into your LinkedIn profile by going to Connections > Add Connections. Because these are people you know (or used to know), you’ll get lots of easy confirmations. Get on the radar of appropriate recruiters. Find recruiters for your region, industry or function by searching on Google and LinkedIn. Look at their profile to make sure they are the right ones for your field, then send them a connection request. Some recruiters aren’t into connecting with networkers, but lots are. Identify people in a position to hire you in 5 to 10 companies that you like. If you can find them on LinkedIn, send them connection requests. When an opportunity opens up in that company you’ll be one step ahead, ready to get your info to the people who can help your application stand out from the rest.

[UPDATE 10/2/15: Check out my follow up post: 5 MORE Things You Can Do Today Instead of Combing Job Boards]

This is just a handful of ideas, but they all fall under the umbrella of networking and there’s not a plastic cup of tepid chardonnay in sight. Have any to add? Do share.

The point is, people camp out on job boards as a way to feel like they’re getting something done without having to do things they’re uncomfortable with. But a lot of the distaste for networking probably comes from a limited view of what networking can be. If you consider all the different ways we have these days for staying in touch with one another, you’re bound to gravitate to some methods over others, so embrace those and make them a part of your strategy. And yes, there probably is a (small) place for job boards in your job search. But maybe not the prominent place they currently enjoy.

Try some of these fresh squeezed ideas to see if they work for you and move you closer to your next job. Good luck out there & let us know how it goes!

Sources:

savagechickens.com/2005/12/honest-networking.html

money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/09/17/dont-believe-these-8-job-search-myths

forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/02/25/the-no-1-way-to-get-hired-today/