How did you land your current job?

[JA]

Why networking is essential for landing your ‘dream job’

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I saw this article and it reaffirmed what I already knew, which is that networking (who you know) is essential to even finding a decent job. No doubt this plays a role in limited upward mobility as people who’re already coming from more privileged backgrounds have access to career opportunities due to social connections that are simply unavailable to underprivileged people. Speaking from personal experience, I know the difficulties of finding a good job without a decent social network, since I come from a low income family with virtually no connections and have never been much of a social person. Simply applying for a job is pretty pointless; you better have experience, education, and know someone if you want an opportunity. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality.

So, I’m curios to see how you guys landed your current jobs and others you’ve had. Do you believe networking is that important? And what do you believe are the consequence of a job market so dependent on networking?

[Mr. Smith]

Assuming I don't completely fudge it or give in resignation, my new gig I got by a job fair...but I did have to take an assessment test, so I guess you could say it was both networking and application.

[Lambsbread]

I applied and proved I could learn Library of Congress classifications

[tmthforu94]

I was contacted by a recruiter for my first job. For my current one, I found the job posting on LinkedIn and applied through the website.

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

Application, although if you work in a small field (e.g., science, local industry, non-profit work) your references during the application process can serve as a proxy for networking because the people evaluating your application may know the reference-giver.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Applied through Zip Recruiter. The company in which I have the most contacts (Quicken Loans and it's family of companies) has repeatedly refused to hire me. That said, this isn't my dream job.

[RFayette]

First internship I got was through connections, but the second was through an online application.

[dead0man]

networking

[Santander]

White privilege

[fhtagn]

How I got started with the company: new store opening, so there was mass hiring to fill it. Years of retail experience (management included), and knowing folks who knew the hiring manager helped me get in easily (so networking was a huge plus).

Worked my way up the totem pole to my current position which I got thanks to said previous management experience, as well as just working hard, going above and beyond job duties, and making myself available as much as possible (admittedly sometimes at the cost of my own sleep and sanity ).

[Rjjr77]

I was recruited to join a firm as a partner

[The Dowager Mod]

Got knocked up.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Just kept writing.

[muon2]

Made personal appeals at the doors of thousands of homes.

[kcguy]

...and experts wonder why geographic mobility has reached a modern low.

I sent in a resume.  Fortunately for me, it turned out that someone working there was in my high school graduating class.

For my last job, I had an employee submit my resume.  He was the son of the best friend of my cousin's wife.  Ironically, he was only with the company for a few months, but I stayed 13 years.

[KingSweden]

My college internship turned into a career despite being totally unrelated to either of my majors

[SATW]

indeed.com

[Xing]

I applied for it.

[Orthogonian Society Treasurer]

I walked in, asked to speak with the manager, and gave him a firm handshake. I was hired on the spot.

[President Johnson]

I applied for another job in the company in April 2015. I was among the finalists, but didn't make it. However, my current boss was so impressed that he called me again three months later when there was a vacancy at another job, which I then took. And this one is actually better than the one I applied for in the first place.

[parochial boy]

I applied for my first job; got my second through a recruitment consultant and am currently trying to network my way into a third one.

Really, it's the first job that is the most horrendous to get hold of - once you're in, you can start to build a network on your own merits.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Today (after surprisingly passing a drug test without even having to cheat), I got hired as the new Assistant City Attorney for Bumblefu<ksville. I applied after the city attorney (who knows my dad from high school football) recommended I apply. The drug test caught me off guard and I wasn't sure if I had enough time to detox after years of near daily weed smoking. I start in 2 weeks. Not sure if this counts as networking or application.

[Tender Branson]

I called, asked for the boss and told her that I will show up at the company in the afternoon.

We talked for about half an hour and I got the job.

Most people who apply these days make the mistake of only sending in their applications via email, without personally calling the company or asking the boss for a personal meeting.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Today (after surprisingly passing a drug test without even having to cheat), I got hired as the new Assistant City Attorney for Bumblefu<ksville. I applied after the city attorney (who knows my dad from high school football) recommended I apply. The drug test caught me off guard and I wasn't sure if I had enough time to detox after years of near daily weed smoking. I start in 2 weeks. Not sure if this counts as networking or application.

Congratulations and enjoy life in BFE. 

[Virginiá]

Today (after surprisingly passing a drug test without even having to cheat), I got hired as the new Assistant City Attorney for Bumblefu<ksville. I applied after the city attorney (who knows my dad from high school football) recommended I apply. The drug test caught me off guard and I wasn't sure if I had enough time to detox after years of near daily weed smoking. I start in 2 weeks. Not sure if this counts as networking or application.

Congratulations! Bumblefu**sville is where all dreams start