Frequently I see job seekers spending too much time searching for leads online. They may spend a whole day searching online and pat themselves on the back at the end of the day and feel a strong sense of accomplishment for working so hard. They may be working hard, but they certainly aren’t working efficiently. Job seekers need to look at the return on investment achieved by spending so much time on the boards. The boards are very seductive because so many jobs are listed. It is a passive method of search that requires little work and little risk for the job seeker. It’s comfortable. Unfortunately, not many people are actually hired through the boards. Most people are hired through people they know.
My advice is to look on the boards during the hours when you may not be able to meet with people in person. Maybe for an hour in the early morning or an hour in the evening. Reserve time during normal business hours to work your contacts, make new connections, and arrange for business meetings and informational interviews.
Here are five more tips from US News and World Report that stress the importance of networking over the job boards.