Networking for Careers

I’m sure we are accustomed to the idea of submitting resumes on Linkedin and Indeed. Most people rely on advice from others to determine the best outcome like on clothing sites reading other people’s reviews and some employers apply the same principles for hiring. Statistically, recommended candidates have a better chance of 40% of being hired in comparison to anyone else. Relying on networking for recruitment is on the rise and although this sounds like a good opportunity it also has many disadvantages.

Word of mouth is good for creating an environment of people with various skills in a business. The wide range of talent will keep the business running comfortably. You meet various people who are going to help you find your dream career and can introduce you to opportunities, but in my opinion, I believe they’re more disadvantages than advantages.

When it comes to networking a specific demographic dominates it, so when it comes to diversity, workplaces no longer accommodate it. More and more companies prioritize referrals and it’s been studied that a balanced gender within a company will help make it more productive.

Networking could also cause a higher chance of spreading false information about the company. You can be applying for a job that completely contradicts your morals due to a lack of knowledge of the company and relying solely on word of mouth.

It’s unnecessarily time-consuming and expensive. You have to take time out of your schedule to visit popular business events for a chance to meet some influential people. This isn’t free, sometimes you have to pay to be able to get into the venue, gas prices, parking, and all these unnecessary fees that will add up.

You will have to put yourself out there and make conversations that could very much go nowhere for your career. There are some people there who aren’t interested in being there outside of being there for themselves. They’ll continually ask you for favors, try selling you their product, and make no room for you to include your agenda. You’re trying to create long-term relationships, so it’s important to be considerate of other people, so it’s not one-sided.

Companies should return to the traditional way of recruiting employees because this isn’t accommodating for people with tight schedules or budgets.