How People Really Get Hired

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We begin a series this week on landing the job you love.

Contrary to popular belief and news reports people still find great jobs in this economy. They must exercise the best job search practices to do so.

Scott’s Story

Scott lost his executive marketing position two years earlier. He sought work diligently for the first six months. Bleak job postings, however, drained his enthusiasm. He believed the word on the street, the recession had eliminated good jobs. He came to our professional program for help.

Once he remembered how people really get hired, he ceased expecting to see good jobs advertised. He remembered that he hired he always hired people that already impressed him. So, he began to contact people he knew. Not only did he rekindle interest in his ability, but his contacts also referred him to others. He contacted 10-15 people a day and set up 10-12 face-to-face or teleconference meetings a week.

As a result, Scott received multiple offers within five weeks of implementing this new approach. He accepted a $250,000 a year salary with a $1,000,000 annual bonus, plus a$60,000 signing bonus. All of this in October of 2008, the beginning of the great recession.

How Decision Makers Hire People

Most people looking for jobs fail to comprehend how managers hire people to fill their needs. They assume that companies advertise all good jobs. Talking to managers and business owners reveals a more common practice.

1. Decision makers hire people who already impressed them with the ability to (a) do the job they want done, (b) fit into the organization and team’s culture and rules, and (c) provide an excellent return on investment
2. If no one they know personally wants the job, hiring authorities ask those they know (including friends and staff) if they know someone that could fit the same three criteria
3. If no one the friends or staff want the job, the decision maker must go to human resources and ask them to advertise the job through normal channels

As a result, most advertised jobs constitute the jobs nobody wanted. This practice continues even when companies maintain a policy to advertise all of their jobs. Frequently, the hiring authority will contact the people they want to hire and say “We’re going to be hiring someone for this position. May I suggest you apply for the position”.

Our group talks to more than 200 companies a week. Of those that will eventually hire someone, 80% refuse to advertise. They claim that advertising will overwhelm them with too many resumes. One company advertised for 300 positions and received 4,000 resumes within two weeks. Instead, they reach out to people they know either to hire them, or find others they want. They extend offers privately with the public never knowing the hire occurred.

Your task: impress people before the need, so you find yourself on the “short list”.

Join us tomorrow for an extra blog discussing “Where to Find the Best Jobs”.

Please share your thoughts and experiences on how people really get hired..