The Biggest Job Search Myth, Debunked

The Biggest Job Search Myth, DebunkedThe Biggest Job Search Myth, DebunkedJob boards. Company career sites. Recruiters contacting you through LinkedIn. There seems to be a vast amount of ways in which people can find work these days. And yet, theres still a job search myth that continues to pervade many a job seekers mind, and its thisAbout 70-80 percent of job listings are never made public. Instead, theyre filled through word-of-mouth, or networking.The Biggest Job Search Myth, DebunkedChances are, youve heard this info, because its been circulated for decades, according to the article, The Vanishing Hidden Job Market.Well-known (and well-respected) sites such as Forbes, CNN, and any Google search worth its salt will gladly report this figure back to you again and again. But heres the thing its not true.The author of this eye-opening article was so determined to track down the origins of this mythic stat that he conducted Herculean research to determine how it came to be.The Origin s of This Job Search MythAfter much digging, he traced it back to a New York Times article fromget this1980.Eighty percent of job openings are never advertised, Mr. Bolles said. Instead, you have to search for a job through contacts.So you have a frame of reference, Richard Bolles, the expert quoted, is the author of a career coaching book called, What Color Is Your Parachute?Doing a little more research, the author found that a Harvard sociologist, Mark Granovetter, was doing research for a book way back in 1974, and found that for people who found a job, 56 percent used personal contacts, while 37 percent used a more traditional approach, such as sending out resumes or applying directly to job postings.But then he was quoted in Forbes magazine stating that almost 75 percent of all successful job searches are the result of informal contacts. You knowwho you know.Why Debunking This Myth is Good for Job SeekersThis research is eye-opening for several reasons. First, it goes to show t hat the data being quoted is over 40 years old, and second, its still inaccurate, even for that time.Todays job search market is vastly different from that time period. The Internet and social media have made it easier than ever to find jobs.Case in point according to Granovetters research, a CareerXRoads 2014 Source of Hire study found that from 2011-2013, people were hired based on the following methodsReferrals 24 percentCareer site 17 percentJob boards 18 percentDirect source 9 percent (e.g., contacted through LinkedIn or already have your resume on file)3rd party 4 percent (recruiting agency)Others 20 percent (temp-to-hire, rehires, etc.)Theres no denying that referrals are a fantastic way to find a job. If they have to choose between two top-tier candidates, and one comes with a referral and the other doesnt, its most likely that the referred candidate will be offered the job.But numerous studies show that the hidden job market isnt all that hidden- and frankly, it never was.H ow Best to Approach Your Job SearchOne of the best methods to finding a job is to work both sides, i.e., networking and applying to job ads that are posted online.And by going to networking events, being professionally active on social media, and reaching out to potential employers for informational interviews just up your odds of getting hired.So the next time someone tells you thebogus stat that 80 percent of jobs are never advertised, tell them the good news (but let them down gently), and focus on making 2016 the year you find the flexible job that you wantReaders, have you heard of the 80 percent stat? Did you believe this job search myth was true? Let us know what you think in the comments below