Job Search Strategies for the Millennium—Internet Useful, Networking Still the Best

As the decade of the ‘90s comes to a close, perhaps a look at how job search strategies have changed and where they are going is in order.

At the beginning of the ‘90s, things were pretty much as they had always been. People who didn’t know much about job searching looked in the newspapers, and perhaps asked their family and friends to be on the lookout for potential job opportunities. Massive layoffs had begun in earnest, but many still believed in the old rule that if you just worked hard, and were a loyal employee, the company would take care of the employee. As the decade wore on, everyone realized that was no longer the rule. Rather, the rule has become to work hard, keep skills up to date, and workers will remain employable if their company no longer needs their services.

But when the time comes to leave the company, whether through one’s own volition, or the company’s how will the job search be this time?

The rules are changing, and they are changing so rapidly that articles like this can be outdated very soon after they are written. The big factor that accounts for this is the Internet. At the beginning of the decade, there was virtually no Internet job search. As we moved through the decade, Information Technology (IT) positions were advertised on the Internet. As recently as two years ago, 80 percent of all job postings on the Internet were for IT positions. That ratio is changing rapidly. Within the next two years, it will probably be 20 percent IT, and 80 percent everything else. More and more companies are realizing the usefulness of Internet job postings.

So, what are the chances of finding a job on the Internet? Despite all the hype, the chances at this point are not great, but it depends on the type of job for which you are looking, as well as the location in which you are looking. However, as stated earlier, the times are a’changin’ rapidly. The postings are increasing dramatically, and the rate of change will maintain, or even increase. It is now estimated that within the next five years, 80 percent of all initial job screenings will be done on the Internet. This will save companies tremendous amounts of money on their recruiting efforts, and those who are unable or unwilling to utilize this major job search tool will be left behind.

Where does that leave you, the actual job searcher? As we remind our clients at The IMPACT Group, a relatively smaller percentage of job openings are listed in the newspaper. Does that mean not looking in the paper? Of course not. You should, but it is only a minor part of your search. The same applies to the Internet. You should, but don’t make it your major job search tool. Of course, a year or so from now, as we are in the new millennium, that advice will probably change. So, the further in the future your job search, the more important it will be to use the Internet. I would like to point out some exceptions to these guidelines. An abundance of jobs that do not require a high degree of technical expertise may be some of the last to find their way onto the Internet. The same can be said of the highest level of management jobs, such as president, CEO’s, etc. For that level of person, networking and recruiters are likely to remain the primary job search tools.

One job search strategy that will not change with the millennium is networking. Recent studies indicate that between 50 percent and 75 percent of jobs are eventually found through networking. That will probably not change a lot. Being referred for a job is still the best way into a company, and will probably remain so. Even if you are reading this article and not looking for a job, network anyway. You never know when it might prove useful, and sooner or later it probably will be.

If you are in a job search mode, and don’t have a computer, seriously consider buying one. Prices have fallen dramatically, and what may have been unaffordable a year or two ago may be affordable now. Use the technology. Get on the Net!