Where To Start A Job Search

Whether you’re looking for a change of work or had that change forced upon you by a layoff or firing, looking for a new job is a big endeavor. 

A job search is a job in itself. 

But unfortunately, it’s a job many people start in the wrong place.

When it’s time to find a new position, most people start in one of two places. Some start with close friends, family members, and maybe even colleagues they worked closely with. Sometimes, they start with a close circle of friends because those friends provide the social support they need to encourage and motivate them during the search. 

But if you’re looking for leads on new opportunities, close contacts are a poor place to start.

Where to Start A Job Search

Network science explains why with a phenomenon known as transitivity—a fancy term for the likelihood that two people who share a mutual connection are connected. 

Networks and relationships tend to cluster; they move towards each other, and over time, many people in that cluster think alike and are aware of the same opportunities that close friends were aware of. All of them are likely aware of the same opportunities.

Other job searchers start with the anonymity of the Internet—maybe to avoid the difficult conversations of telling our friends and connections, or maybe to access a greater diversity of possible job leads. 

There are a few problems with moving right to websites like Monster.com or CareerBuilder.com, though. There are obvious problems like few opportunities being posted to job boards or getting past whatever apps and algorithms screen out resumes. However, the biggest problem is how hard it is to know whether or not the new job and the new organization are a fit.

So, how do you judge company culture from a help-wanted ad? How do you know whether you’ll work well with your new team based on an online job listing? 

Sure, you can judge during the interview process. But in some cases, you may spend weeks pursuing a job only to find out just how little of a fit there is between you and the company in the final round.

The Advantage of Dormant Ties

That’s why the best place to start a job search is with former colleagues from past jobs or colleagues from the job you’re now leaving. Former colleagues are a special connection or dormant ties, as we call them. 

In the network around you, dormant ties have been proven in research to have access to more information than your close contacts. When you seek out multiple dormant ties, you tap into a wealth of new potential leads like those on online job websites.

BUT dormant ties also know you. They remember what it was like to work with you, and they have insight into what types of companies or teams would be a good fit for you. Dormant ties provide new information but also information that’s more likely to be useful. 

That combination of knowing you and knowing where you should look is what makes them the best place to start.

Whether you’re looking for something new or something new, found you, look at dormant ties first to start your job search.

Log onto LinkedIn for Targeted Connections

Of course, nothing works better than dormant ties, but another amazing way to kickstart your job search is on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the one platform for finding and connecting with professionals. 

In fact, according to research, 77% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates. So take the time to connect with your colleagues, bosses, and other professionals through the platform and ask them for information interviews or general advice.

Who knows when you’ll find positions that haven’t been advertised yet?

Attend Industry-Specific Networking Events

Next, going to networking events and industry conferences is a great way to start, where you get to meet new people and form deeper connections with those you already know.

In fact, as per research, 70% of job opportunities are discovered via networking, and meeting someone face-to-face has a higher impact than finding someone online.

So, when you attend an industry-specific networking event, you meet those already working in your field. In this way, you have a higher chance of landing a job that aligns with your experience and academics, but of course, networking alone will not work. The best is to combine the power of networking with dormant ties.

Conduct Informational Interviews

Another important strategy is conducting informal interviews. These are interviews you can have with your former colleagues or other industrial professionals. Unlike formal job interviews, these information interviews are a great way to gain knowledge and build the professional’s trust. 

You also learn about jobs or job posts that may not be immediately available, but it will help you connect with the right people so they can call you in for an interview whenever the opportunity strikes.

Wrap Up

Starting a job search can be a daunting experience, especially when you don’t know where to start and who to approach, but with the right strategy, it can make all the steps ahead easier. 

Start with dormant ties or connect with your former colleagues or classmates who know you and can refer you to job leads that are more in line with your personality and experience. Do not rely on one platform; look for other networking events where you can find the right people and opportunities. Of course, in this way, you will be better able to find a position that best fits your skills, goals, and values.