As I give presentations to groups of executives in the midst if career transitions, many believe that their best path to a new job is through gaining the good graces of a recruiter. Even those who are actively participating in outplacement programs often believe that their first strategy should be via executive search firms. I routinely counsel them away from this often preferred path through discussions of how recruiters work and what the statistics show.
A recent study by Right Management, perhaps the largest outplacement firm in business, supports the advice I give. During 2010 they kept track of the almost 60,000 of their clients who found new jobs. Once again the studies clearly show that getting that next job will more often occur through networking. The exact statistics were as follows:
Networking: 41%
Internet Job Boards: 25%
Search Firms: 11%
Direct Approach: 8%
Online Network: 4%
Advertisements: 2%
Other: 10%
According to Carly McVey, Right Management's VP of Career Management, "...technology plays a role. But online social networking may not always be separate from traditional networking since one often leads to the other A job seeker uses the Internet to track down former associates or acquaintances and then reaches out to them in person." She went on to say that "...successful candidates use a mix of approaches..." The direct approach (i.e., cold calling) still plays a role in a successful job search strategy, and on-line job boards are also gaining ground.
While executive recruiters should be a part of your job search strategy, the numbers continue to support that networking, in its various forms, and reaching out directly to potential employers carries the day (49% combined). As the folks at Right Management say, "People still land most jobs person to person."
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