My alma mater has asked me to lead a seminar on networking, not the social on-line networking, but the face-to-face networking that is related to career searches and advancement.
In this day and age, does face-to-face networking even have any value? Or does it only have value for the older generations who did not grow up with Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, etc.? Why SHOULD anyone learn the old-fashioned networking anymore? Is it more or less valuable than the on-line variety?
Are the majority of jobs still learned of through word-of-mouth? I used to be told that it was 70% (in which case networking made sense). With the large number of corporations doing so much of their recruiting on-line, is this figure still valid?
When discussing recruitment with colleagues, the majority tell me that they tell potential employees to simply check their websites, or some of the career websites (rather than referring them to an individual or contact). I understand the value for security reasons, and to keep employees from being overwhelmed, but I see it as a hindrance, as I often found the best employees through mutual acquaintances, not over an impersonal website (however wonderful the screening process is).
Anything I should or should not include in this seminar? Thoughts? Comments?
In this day and age, does face-to-face networking even have any value? Or does it only have value for the older generations who did not grow up with Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, etc.? Why SHOULD anyone learn the old-fashioned networking anymore? Is it more or less valuable than the on-line variety?
Are the majority of jobs still learned of through word-of-mouth? I used to be told that it was 70% (in which case networking made sense). With the large number of corporations doing so much of their recruiting on-line, is this figure still valid?
When discussing recruitment with colleagues, the majority tell me that they tell potential employees to simply check their websites, or some of the career websites (rather than referring them to an individual or contact). I understand the value for security reasons, and to keep employees from being overwhelmed, but I see it as a hindrance, as I often found the best employees through mutual acquaintances, not over an impersonal website (however wonderful the screening process is).
Anything I should or should not include in this seminar? Thoughts? Comments?