How many contacts does it take to get a job at your target company?

How many contacts does it take to get a job at your target company?

Posted by Molly Wendell // in Job SearchNetworking

Really?  How many people do you need to connect with to get the job of your dreams?  Just one, right?  All it takes is one.  It reminds me of that old commercial.  How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?  Just one, right?

Well, for some of you, it may be just one, because you take a bite out of the process.  But for the rest of you, you’re soon going to realize that it takes a lot more than one.  And if you haven’t realized that yet, perhaps you ought to listen up.

So often I sit in our Executives Network meetings and watch someone offer up a contact at someone’s target company, only to have the person say “Oh, I already have a contact there.”  One contact.  Just one.  Nice.  I hope you like unemployment, because you might be hanging out with it for a while!

Then you hear of stories, like Mike and Bob.  Mike decided he wanted to get into a new industry.  He met with 150 people in that industry.  He ended up landing in an incredible job – one that previously required “industry experience.”  When I decided to target a new industry, I met with 60 people in the new industry.  While they told the rest of the world they weren’t actively hiring, for some reason, it didn’t stop me from getting 30 job offers!

Bob.  Well, Bob has a different story.  He didn’t want to just target an industry.  He made a decision to pursue one company.  One single company.  Exclusively.  And he decided that’s where he wanted to work. So what did he do?  Did he connect with a few folks over there.  Yes, you bet he connected with a few.  And then a few more.  And then a few more.  He called people.  He met with people.  He called some more.  And met with even more.  After about month, he started making some serious headway.  Within three months, he’d met with more than 100 people – all at the same company.  By the end of month four, he’d made it through five rounds of interviews and landed an incredible position!

If you’re frustrated with your job search, I’d ask you what kind of effort you’re putting in.  How many people are you meeting with from your target industry?  How many people are you meeting from your target company?  Are you having fascinating, provocative conversations with these people?  Or are you throwing up your life story right before their very eyes?

The opportunities are out there for you.  But it takes more than a bite into the Tootise Pop.  It actually takes some effort.  Okay, maybe a lot of effort.  Maybe it’s time for you to stop waiting for the dream job to just land in your lap.  And go out and get the position you’ve always wanted.  It’s only one contact (or two or 100) away!!