Networking Your Way Through a Career Change

Networking Your Way Through a Career Change Networking Your Way Through a Career Change 10When it comes to job searching and making your way through a career change, I have yet to meet a person who says it is easy. Most people start by poking around on job boards and then throw together an application when they see a too-good-to-pass-up opportunity. Most people also find themselves frustrated and defeated because after several online applications  (sometimes hundreds!), they come up empty handed. Dont fall into this trap! Networking needs to be part of your transition strategy, especially if you are making a career change, and I will tell you why. First, are you even making a career change? Did you know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collect data on how many times people change careers because there is no  consensus  on what constitutes a career change? Is it a change in occupation, industry, or both? How dramatic does the change need to be to warrant special transition strategies and tactics? Are you a square peg for a round hole? When it comes to applying for jobs, the farther you are outside of what employers are expecting to see, the less likely you will see success from your online applications. With the advancements in applicant tracking software systems (the software that collects your online applications), employers are able to sift applications based on a wide range of criteria. If you are anything other than exactly what they are seeking, your application may never even be seen by human eyes. Figuring out what a specific employer inputs as the search criteria is the mystery that every job seeker is trying to solve. Although applying online is a very common job transition strategy, you are wise if this does not constitute all or even most of your time searching and applying for jobs. Using your network is a great way to be successful through a career change. How to network your way through a career change. Even for job seekers who are in line with employer expectations, networking is often a critical piece of a successful job search. In addition to keeping your eyes on the job boards and applying online, you should spend time networking. By networking, I am not talking about cold transactional interactions, I mean building meaningful professional relationships with people. The types of relationships that are beneficial for both people. A relationship that does not end when one person gets a job. A relationship that leads to referrals and I want to make a quick call and see if I can connect you with As you decide how to divide up your time applying online versus networking, let me leave you with these final numbers During the 2014 National Resume Writers  Association  national conference, the keynote speaker presented statistics on hiring probabilities for qualified candidates. The data showed that those who apply online only have a 1.2 percent chance of being hired, whereas those who are referred by someone internally have a 20 percent chance of being hired. Based on those  probabilities  alone, how are you going to spend the majority of your time making your next career change? Looking to change careers? Start your job search here! Michelle Aikman is the founder and lead consultant of Skilled Assets, a premier career management and corporate consulting business. She’s also one of only 38 Nationally Certified Résumé Writers worldwide. The NCRW is the premier industry certification upholding the most stringent standards for quality in mechanics, strategy, and formatting. With extensive “in-the-trenches” experience navigating the job market as a military spouse and engineer, she is an advocate for the military community and people with complex situations like major career changers and people with paid work gaps. Michelle promotes proactive career management and strategic career transition techniques so people can have the type of work that is truly fulfilling and fits with their life. She also works to transform the hiring market, helping employers recognize, capture, and retain high-value talent who are often overlooked for all of the wrong reasons. Find Michelle on Twitter and LinkedIn.