In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, a friend of mine who had recently been laid off shared a disheartening experience: "I applied to 78 jobs on LinkedIn, online job boards, and through referrals in the past three months, yet I haven't secured a single interview or job offer."

This sentiment has resonated with many job seekers since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. As the job market grapples with mass layoffs, economic instability, and the transition to remote work, job seekers find themselves in a challenging situation, necessitating a fresh approach to their job-hunting strategies.

The job market has undergone a rapid transformation, rendering traditional job-seeking techniques less effective. In this evolving landscape, it's crucial for individuals to adapt and explore innovative strategies.

One such strategy, rooted in both scientific research and practical success, is the concept of "Weak Ties," as introduced by Mark Granovetter in 1970. Despite changes in job roles and the recruitment process, Granovetter's findings remain pertinent in today's job market. His research revealed that most job opportunities are discovered through personal connections rather than direct applications on platforms like LinkedIn or job boards.

Related: Crafting an Effective LinkedIn Profile for Recruiters: Best Practices and Tips

Employing this method enables job seekers to gather valuable insights about potential roles and provide enhanced input into the application process. From the perspective of Talent Acquisition professionals, this approach also fosters a sense of trust, which is highly valued by employers.

A 2018 survey conducted by the talent management software firm Silkroad, encompassing over 1,000 companies and more than 320,000 hires, found that a staggering 78% of these hires were made through "offline" channels, meaning candidates were sourced from sources other than traditional career websites.

Identifying the Right Connections: Granovetter's research also sheds light on the fact that job seekers are more likely to succeed when reaching out to contacts who are not overly familiar, such as current bosses, friends, or family members.

Instead, the most fruitful connections tend to be those with whom you have had limited exposure or individuals you haven't interacted with for an extended period.

Potential contacts to consider include:

  • Former supervisors
  • Managers of teams you've previously collaborated with
  • Ex-colleagues
  • HR professionals from previous workplaces
  • Past clients, you've collaborated with

Effectively Cultivating Connections: To harness the power of weak ties, follow these steps:

  1. Compile a contact list comprising at least 50 potential connections.
  2. Rank them in descending order based on factors such as their role in an organization and the likelihood of them being able to assist you.
  3. Initiate contact through LinkedIn or email rather than resorting to cold messaging.
  4. The objective is to schedule a call during which you can articulate your job search goals and showcase your skills.

The job search journey can be grueling, especially for those who haven't searched for employment in a while. It's crucial to remember that circumstances will evolve, but maintaining consistent effort and motivation is equally essential.

Happy Hunting!

About Rang Technologies

Rang Technologies, based in New Jersey, has dedicated over a decade to delivering innovative staffing solutions and the best talent to help businesses of all sizes unlock the full potential of the latest technologies and build high-performing teams to achieve their digital transformation goals.