(Job) Hunt and Peck
With several close friends and colleagues in the process of career changes, I thought a quick post on their labors would be in order. In what may be my shortest blog to date, let me summarize - job boards are useless!.
Although the reasons for my saber rattling are long, let me simplify in a step-by-step guide to today’s most prevalent process:
Step 1 - Company takes a painfully long effort to write a job description and define the characteristics for success with the hiring manager(s);
Step 2 - Position opens;
Step 3 - Recruiter blindly posts position on all job board sites;
Step 4 - Masses of individuals post to open job;
Step 5 - Time passes;
Step 6 - Hiring manager has lunch with a friend, who mentions a colleague who might be perfect for the job;
Step 7 - Time passes;
Step 8 - Hiring manager interviews the referred individual;
Step 9 - Recruiter finally looks through online applications but doesn’t have the domain expertise to translate matches for downselect;
Step 10 - Time passes;
Step 11 - Hiring manager hires former colleague;
Step 12 - Posting remains on job board even though position is filled.
My recommendation? Network, network, network. And if you’ve successfully landed a good position via a job board, please let me know so I can unravel the mystery. For the rest of you, pick up the phone (yes, the phone) and call the people you know.
Let’s keep the conversation going.