Don't Make This Common Job Search Mistake, Say Harvard Researchers—Here’s How to Avoid It

When aiming for your next employment opportunity, the quantity of applications submitted isn’t the most reliable indicator of advancement. Rather, the genuine benchmark is the number of discussions you engage in, as highlighted by a recent study. Harvard researchers .

Following ten years of interviews and research involving over 1,000 employees ranging from high-level corporate executives toChipotle kitchen supervisors, Harvard scholars discovered that individuals who manage career shifts effectively share a crucial ability: they are adept at building professional networks.

Although it may not be a cure-all solution, networking can assist you in evaluating potential opportunities more effectively and prevent you from accepting a position that turns out to be unsatisfying, according to the authors.

"Individuals often rush to join platforms like LinkedIn or various job boards, quickly sending out their resumes instead of engaging with individuals from the companies or departments they’re interested in," explains Michael B. Horn, who is one of the co-authors of this study. kor.newsMake It. Securing employment is often more about personal connections than most individuals acknowledge; searching for the ideal position online typically does not lead to the perfect match, despite possibly resulting in a job offer.

"The Job Moves" is a recently published book co-written by Horn, who lectures at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education; Ethan Bernstein, a professor at Harvard Business School; and Robert Moesta, the CEO and founder of the consultancy firm The Re-Wired Group.

Networking has grown even more crucial in a job market inundated with competition. ghost jobs , AI-driven candidate screenings along with ChatGPT-created resumes, Horn adds.

He points out that employers lack strong confidence that resumes submitted via online listings truly reflect a candidate's skills, experience, and suitability for a position in this era of artificial intelligence. Often, they revert to traditional methods—possibly relying on them even more than before—which involves awaiting suitable candidates from within their professional networks.

Studies indicate that recommended applicants have a significantly higher likelihood of securing employment over individuals who submit applications directly via job sites or headhunters. recent report According to research conducted by Paradigm, a company specializing in diversity strategies and consultancy, referrals had an over 4.5 times higher chance of securing employment.

How to make networking seem less 'uncomfortable'—and be more successful

Horn acknowledges that many individuals find networking to be "uneasy and intimidating," yet he believes this process can be made simpler.

Jasmine Escalera, a vocational advisor at MyPerfectResume, recommends the following strategy Compile a list of open positions you’re truly excited about, then contact the hiring manager, recruitment team, and a potential colleague through email or LinkedIn.

Once you make contact, be sure to greet them, state who you are, indicate that you have submitted an application, share how your values align with those of the organization, and propose setting up a meeting over coffee, whether face-to-face or online.

These connections can offer you exclusive perspectives about the organization and the role, potentially enhancing your likelihood of getting selected and eventually offered the job.

You don’t necessarily need to reach out directly to someone within an organization you’re interested in to gain from networking. Often, discussions with people in roles or industries that intrigue you—regardless of their specific company—can provide more candid perspectives, according to Bernstein.

Bernstein suggests that one of the most astute questions you can pose during such discussions is: "How would you persuade me to take this position, and how would you dissuade me from taking it?"

This query delves into the core advantages and disadvantages associated with a position.

Ultimately, informational interviews "a opportunity to discern if the role truly aligns with what you wish to pursue and matches your current values and priorities in life," explains Bernstein.

If you engage in numerous networking discussions without identifying any possible warning signs, "you might be conducting them incorrectly," he notes. "You also gain insights into what you desire in a position by recognizing what you dislike."

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