Networking Re-emerges As The Most Important Job-Finding Tool

The old-school practice of networking — building professional relationships over the course of years — is becoming an increasingly important employment safeguard as AI upends the workplace.

The Big Picture: AI and remote work have disrupted every aspect of the job market, including what entry-level jobs still exist, how resumes are analyzed, and who’s eligible to apply for positions. Add in social media, and it’s clear there’s a widespread depersonalization happening — one that only cheap name tags and sweaty handshakes can cut through.

Between the Handshakes: Time to hit the hotel conference rooms.

• Technological disruption has put so many people in the job pool that the only real way to stand out is to cultivate relationships — usually well before you need something.
• Experts say that’s because recruiters and hiring managers are overwhelmed by the number of options available to them, so having a personal relationship helps narrow the search.
• But potentially more important than a personal relationship is an acquaintance willing to make a connection — a referral from someone higher up makes you appear vetted.
• And simply making contacts on social media isn’t enough these days, as it feels too low-lift compared to relationships formed IRL — a similar realization to the quality of an experience, event, or movie.

Closing Thoughts: Dorie Clark, a professor at Columbia Business School and author of The Long Game, calls the new paradigm of networking the “favor economy,” which she details as being willing to “help someone that you don’t know that well, because you are indirectly doing a favor for the person you do know well.” It’s that daisy chain of favors that helps people constantly find employment.

Prediction: Ask anyone looking for a job right now — it’s hard. Landing any job in this environment may be predicated on first taking the time to attend unique networking events that can get you a leg up in the application process.