(Job) Hunt and Peck

With several close friends and colleagues in the process of career changes, I thought a quick post on their labors would be in order. In what may be my shortest blog to date, let me summarize – job boards are useless!.

Although the reasons for my saber rattling are long, let me simplify in a step-by-step guide to today’s most prevalent process:

Step 1 – Company takes a painfully long effort to write a job description and define the characteristics for success with the hiring manager(s);
Step 2 – Position opens;
Step 3 – Recruiter blindly posts position on all job board sites;
Step 4 – Masses of individuals post to open job;
Step 5 – Time passes;
Step 6 – Hiring manager has lunch with a friend, who mentions a colleague who might be perfect for the job;
Step 7 – Time passes;
Step 8 – Hiring manager interviews the referred individual;
Step 9 – Recruiter finally looks through online applications but doesn’t have the domain expertise to translate matches for downselect;
Step 10 – Time passes;
Step 11 – Hiring manager hires former colleague;
Step 12 – Posting remains on job board even though position is filled.

My recommendation? Network, network, network. And if you’ve successfully landed a good position via a job board, please let me know so I can unravel the mystery. For the rest of you, pick up the phone (yes, the phone) and call the people you know.

Let’s keep the conversation going.