Use your networks for job search

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Searching for jobs seem to be getting more and more challenging for many people. With the cost of living rising every other day, no one would afford to stay unemployed if they are to meet their rising costs. This tends to exert pressure on the unemployed since they realize that as much as they need the jobs, the jobs don’t seem to be coming their way. Many try to access job opportunities through the traditional newspaper adverts, while others rely on the company website for job related information.

One highly underutilized mechanism for job search is the network of friends. Each of us has several networks that can be utilized for job hunting. The friends you had in college might be holding great positions in both companies and organizations. They could just be the source of information about available job opportunities that you could take advantage of in your job search. The truth is that many of us only need the information about available job opportunities to prove ourselves through the systems.

Some of us would however rather stay jobless than let our college mates know that we are still tarmacking. This is a ‘wise’ way of sustaining our self-esteem. It could be that you were among the high flying students, always topping the class performance but have had to do without a job since graduation while those who were not very good in class seem to have got jobs immediately after campus.

I am not sure what self-esteem someone would be fighting for even when they have been unable to secure a job. As much as it is great to hold onto to what really matters to one’s esteem, it is foolhardy to hold onto that which does not value to your life. Swallowing our pride and approaching our former college mates could just be what we require to land that dream job. The fact that they know and trust us might work well for us since the job market today seems to be driven more by trust, and not just the capacity to deliver results.

If you are a member of a religious assembly, seek to utilize that facility for your job search efforts. Realize that most of the persons who attend those gatherings every weekend are the same persons who occupy high offices during the week. They are the employers who might be struggling to fill certain vacancies. Unless you have a sticker on your face indicating you are seeking for a job, no one will know unless you talk. Share your career objectives and current status with them after the service and give them a neatly done copy of your resume.

Finally, just scroll down your phone book and you will be amazed at the number of potential persons who could link you up with potential employers. The people whose phone numbers we share could be of other support other than just communication for social events. They could have important contacts with potential employers that could greatly help us.