I am struggling with networking to find and achieve my next career move.

Anonymous

February 1,2024 at 7:22PM UTC

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I am struggling with networking to find and achieve my next career move.

Can you share what worked for you and did not feel forced or any good books on it?

I have worked with a career coach and he suggested that every day I need to connect with 10 people on LinkedIn and send them an email for networking to explain my value. This feels forced and intrusive. I started doing it, but the responses are very few and far between.

I am going to conferences and then try to follow up, but I essentially am competing with the people there.

How do I reach higher level people (my potential future bosses) who can consider for the hidden job market?

Lately also finding a good recruiter has been challenging.

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Barb HansenFebruary 1,2024 at 10:10PM UTC
You can connect with me on LinkedIn (link is in my profile) and then you'll only need to connect to 9 people on LinkedIn :)
Now, let's give you some advice that worked for me beyond my quasi-smart-alecky comment above. I am serious about offering a connection on LinkedIn. I don't know your career but I have a pretty deep circle of tech people and I'm always happy to make an introduction if you need one.
Expand your networking outside of LinkedIn - attend IRL or virtual meetups in your area that are related to your job (if you can find any) or women in business/tech meetups.
Have your LinkedIn profile ready to go and share it with the people you meet.
Join Lunchclub - a one-on-one "meet people" matching service that sets up 30 minute meeting between people who have matching profiles. I don't work for Lunchclub, I started using this service during the pandemic when my normal ways to talk to people dried up. I've met some really interesting people on Lunchclub and some of turned into LinkedIn connections that have helped me.
AnonymousFebruary 2,2024 at 4:23AM UTC
Thank you! This is an interesting suggestion!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 2,2024 at 12:59AM UTC
What hidden job market?
AnonymousFebruary 2,2024 at 4:15AM UTC
Jobs that are not advertised on job boards.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistFebruary 2,2024 at 7:08AM UTC
There is no hidden job market. The only jobs that are not widely advertised are typically very senior positions where if it got out that they were conducting that search it would potentially impact the business (effect the stock price) or if someone is going to be fired and doesn't know it yet. Those are usually the only confidential searches - typically no more than 5% of all jobs at any given time, if that much.
This is part of the nonsense that some "job coaches" use to sell their services. They try to scare jobseekers into paying lots of money for their secret sauce course or "job coaching".
Companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to advertise their jobs. Does it even sound like it makes any sense that a company would have open jobs and not advertise those far and wide?
AnonymousFebruary 2,2024 at 8:25PM UTC
Not entirely true. Sometimes knowing you people can create a job position if they believe there is value in what you bring to the table. Also, some positions are posted only internally, but if they know you they may decide to go with you.