We have written much on the topic of networking on this blog and how many young adults are absolutely ignorant to the importance of it in their job searches. 80% of all jobs are never advertised and how you uncover those jobs is through networking.
Many young adults are indeed natural networkers. Look at the popularity of Facebook and Myspace. Unfortunately, for them many Boomers and Xers are not using those channels, and therefore Yers never create an online or offline network of contacts. (Perhaps LinkedIn can bring the generations together online.)
To further hurt them, the accepted and only way most know to search for a job is to post a resume at Monster or other large national job boards and sit back and wait. If they get to a local company website, they shoot an email to a generic email address with an attachment and most often never follow up. Only 10% of jobs are filled through online databases. Just 1 out of 10.
To help young adults with networking, the book Truth and Delusion by founders of BNI (includes co-author and Roanoke’s own Mike Garrison) talk about the six-different groups professionals should have association with. Also, Jason Dorsey’s book My Reality Check Bounced also offers a list or organizations to visit and join.
We all must tell recent graduates (high school and college) that just because you have a degree does not mean you will have a job. Job searching is hard work and takes time. You must be able to sell yourself and your skill sets to the company.
The gap appears to be getting wider of young adults not being able to communicate with older generations offline. As a result, the default for young adults is to move to a larger city cause Monster says there are more jobs there. But really, using networking in the job search is the same in those cities too.
Reach out to young people and help them understand the labor market and how to use networking in their job searches.
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The resulting mis-match has become a serious problem, especially since most decisionmakers and leaders seem reluctant to try to learn new skills, and don't take Gen X/Millenial technology skills and expertise seriously.
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Sean
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