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If you have any friends who have been looking for a job over the past couple of years, you might realize just how grim and tough the situation has become.
Anecdotally speaking, they might tell you how they’ve applied to dozens or even hundreds of positions, even junior ones, only to be ghosted. Or they might vent about the endless rounds of interviews and tests they have to slog through, only to get rejected at the last moment. Or even how they get laid off at the very end of their trial period for no good reason.
For many people, looking for a job is, well, a full-time job.
John Nolan, M.A., an expert in the n the fields of organizational change management and leadership development and the co-author of ‘106 Impossible Things Before Breakfast,’ points out that networking is a vital part of the job search process.
He emphasizes the importance of community, empathy, and how your network “needs to remain nourished” after you leave a role.
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“The best jobs go to those in your network. But I find people often neglect their network until they need it. Too often, colleagues who reach out to me to learn more about a role at my company or to connect say that they have reached out to many others and no one returns their calls. Are we really at the point that when you have worked with someone for years, you can’t take 30 minutes out of your day to connect with them?” Nolan muses in a Psychology Today post.
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According to Nolan, even if you can’t help someone you know get a job, you can help motivate them and give them hope by simply connecting with them and giving them some of your time.
“We need to do more. It is time we looked at such connections with a sense of pride; these are people who are reaching out to you because they admire you, trust you, and need your help. We can do better to help them, because we may one day be in the same position and need that helping hand from someone else.”
Meanwhile, you don’t need to be a recruiter or hiring manager to look for talented people to join your team at work. You can actively look for potential candidates to fill the roles at your company. Bringing in more talented individuals helps everyone at the company.
“There is nothing to lose. If you are good at your job, those you bring in will be at a similar caliber and help to drive the organization forward.”
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Something else to keep in mind is that after you’ve finally gotten your new position, you can help your network by sharing online how it is that you landed your role. Gatekeeping that info doesn’t help anyone. Meanwhile, your advice can give someone you know a much-needed boost when they need it the most.
You are, essentially, helping people who are likely to help you when you’re in need in the future. Being empathetic and supportive makes sense, even from a purely utilitarian perspective (even disregarding the fact that it is the kind and ethical thing to do).
