The Importance of Networking in a Shifting Job Market

I haven’t gotten a job from an actual application in 15+ years. Every single one has been through knowing someone. - My first job came from a college connection. - My second? I cold-emailed (borderline harassed) until I got hired. - A friend’s recommendation landed me my third. - For my current job, I made sure to get in front of the right person. When I first met my boss, she was at a different company, and no job existed — I just knew I wanted to work for her. When she joined Paramount (formerly Viacom), I messaged her the day it was announced — before a job description even went up — so she’d keep me in mind. That’s how I got my dream job. But I’ve noticed something: a lot of people have given up on networking. And no, that doesn’t mean forcing yourself to sit through a terrible dinner at 6:30 PM on the other side of town with people you don’t want to talk to. Networking can be as simple as using social media as a tool, posting on LinkedIn, or actually picking up the phone. I’ve noticed that many junior team members just don’t network like I did — and still do. And because they don’t, they don’t have the relationships. Lately, the job market has been brutal. Thousands of people apply to a job within hours. You stand out through the connections you build. That’s how you hear about jobs before they’re even posted. That’s how your name gets recognized in a pile of résumés. That’s how you have a person to reach out to when a role opens at their company. Your résumé is just words. Unless someone knows you, those words might not mean much. People need to see beyond the bullet points — to understand you, what makes you special, what you bring to the table, and why you’re different from every other candidate. And when they do, they’re more likely to consider you for a job — or advocate for you when the right opportunity comes up. If you’re just applying to job after job and calling it a day, you’re doing it wrong. Start reaching out—send a message, track down people at the company, suggest a call, meet someone in person. Do something beyond hitting “submit.” If that’s all you’re doing, it’s not enough. And if you don’t have connections? Go make them.

Stop Chasing Job Postings and Start Building Relationships. Let’s get real for a moment. The traditional job search is broken, especially for product managers aiming to rise to the top. If your job search strategy is focused on endlessly scrolling through job boards, tweaking your resume for every application, and hoping for a response, you’re playing a losing game. It's time to stop throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. In the modern job market, especially at the executive level, jobs don’t come from applying to countless postings. They come from knowing the right people, having the right conversations, and being at the right place and time. The best opportunities aren’t always advertised—they’re created and approached through relationships. Think about this: When was the last time a job posting perfectly matched your dream role? One that matches your skills and is aligned with your career goals, values, and lifestyle? Those roles are rare and highly competitive. They won’t come to you because you sent in a resume. They come to you because you’ve built a network that knows your worth and advocates for you. Building relationships is not just a “nice-to-have” in your career—it’s essential. When I founded Intentional Product Manager, it was to change how product managers approach their careers. I wanted to help talented professionals like you stop relying on luck and start taking control. The shift from chasing job postings to building strategic relationships is transformative. It’s about stepping off the treadmill of traditional job hunting and into a powerful space where opportunities find you. So, be intentional with your interactions. Whether it’s a LinkedIn message, an email, or a coffee chat, show up as your best self. Be clear about what you bring, and articulate how your skills can help others succeed. Stay consistent. Building relationships is not a one-time task. It’s a continuous effort. Make networking a regular part of your professional life, not just something you do when you’re in job search mode. Tell your story. This is not just about what you do but who you are and what drives you. People remember stories, not resumes. Share the challenges you've overcome, the wins that define you, and the vision you have for the future. When you shift your focus from submitting applications to cultivating relationships, you change the game. You move from being just another resume in a pile to being a known and trusted entity in your field. You position yourself as a leader, someone who is connected, informed, and worth knowing. Your dream job is out there, but it won’t come to you through an online application job board. It will come when you’ve built a network that knows who you are and what you stand for.

"If you work hard in your job search, you'll find something" Here's the reality of the job search that most people don't want to face: Hard work isn’t the issue. People job search HARD. They send out hundreds of applications. They tweak their resume for hours. They follow every “expert” tip. And yet— 🔹 They hear nothing back. 🔹 They get ghosted after interviews. 🔹 They watch someone less qualified land the job they want. Then the doubt creeps in: "𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵." Let me stop you right there. The job market isn’t a meritocracy. It’s not the hardest worker who gets hired. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲. 🚫 Passively applying online is the slowest way to get hired. 🚀 Networking speeds up the process. 👀 Visibility creates opportunities. Think about it—hiring managers don’t just sit around waiting for the best resume. They hire people they know, people who are referred, and people who stand out. Want to actually get hired? Do this instead: ➝ Stop hiding. If no one knows who you are, how can they hire you? Make recruiters and hiring managers recognize your name before you ever apply. ▪️ Follow the people who have the job you want. ▪️Follow companies you’re interested in. ▪️Turn on notifications for key people. ▪️Engage with their content consistently—most stick around the first hour after posting, so that’s your window to get seen. ▪️Add value in the comments. Don’t just say “great post”—contribute something meaningful. ➝ Build relationships (the right way). Most people connect, immediately ask for a referral, and wonder why they get ignored. Here’s the thing: Networking isn’t about YOU. It’s about them. If the first thing you say is, “Hey, can you get me a job?” you’re treating people like a transaction. That’s why your strategy isn’t working. Instead: ▪️Be curious. Ask about their career path. ▪️Find common ground. Maybe you went to the same school or work in the same industry. ▪️Give before you take. Engage with their content, support their work, and build a real connection before making an ask. When people know you and like you, they’ll want to help. ➝ Create opportunities instead of waiting for them. Most job seekers wait for a recruiter to reach out. But the ones who get hired faster? They make themselves impossible to ignore. Here’s how: ▪️Post about your job search journey. ▪️Showcase your expertise. ▪️Be active daily. Most won’t do this. But those who do? They get inbound opportunities. Understand that this takes time. No shortcuts. No cutting corners. You don’t have to work harder—just smarter. But if you’re trying to skip steps, you’ll keep hitting dead ends. 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀.

Behind every opportunity is a relationship, and behind every relationship is a conversation. Networking is about building real connections that last and have the potential to help you find your next opportunity. Data shared by the University of Maryland’s Department of Economics indicates you won’t find 70% of available jobs on any site that posts open positions. Those positions are usually found on a company’s internal network, often by referral. In other words, relationships can make the difference between finding a job or not. That’s no surprise to me. Throughout my journey, from engineer to investor, relationships have been a constant driver of growth. Mentors, colleagues and peers have not only opened doors, but also challenged my thinking, sharpened my skills and inspired my vision. Here’s what I have learned: - Be curious: Ask questions that show you care about people’s stories. - Be intentional: Connect with purpose, not just for your own gain. - Be consistent: Follow up, follow through and add value where you can. Networking isn’t a one-time event. It requires maintaining ongoing relationships rooted in trust and genuine interest in other people’s lives. Whether you’re just starting out on your professional journey or deep into your field, relationships are what power careers.

This one is for the job seekers out there! I've been career coaching for over a decade now and have spoken to hundreds of job seekers over the years. Anecdotally, it's rough! I've had way too many conversations where folks have been filled with frustration because despite their qualifications, the hiring manager goes with someone else "more qualified". People usually come to me to ask if that's bs or if there might be some other unspoken reason they didn't get hired. The current market reminds me of the 100m Men's Final at the 2024 Olympics. Between 1st and last place, there was only a 0.2 second spread, one of the smallest in history. THIS IS THE JOB MARKET. With so many layoffs over the last few years, there is a surplus of really talented people and many folks are getting to the final stages with really qualified competition. But getting a job differs from competing at the Olympics. It is NOT a meritocracy. So, here are a few tips on how to make yourself more dope (pun intended): 1️⃣ NETWORK 2️⃣ NETWORK 3️⃣ NETWORK The only effective way I've seen people differentiate themselves is to have a relationship with people involved in the hiring process. If you've got two people who have almost identical qualifications and potential (hypothetically speaking), the person with the relationship has a 12x higher chance of getting the job (https://lnkd.in/gKhRN_hx). Some people think leveraging a relationship means they aren't standing on their own or aren't playing by the rules. THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. Building genuine relationships and then leveraging them throughout your life and career is one of the most important keys to success no matter what you do. Every successful person I admire has relationships that go far and wide and they aren't afraid to call a friend, especially when it matters. The job race is tight and depending on meritocracy alone puts you in all the lanes except 7. Networking might just be the edge you are looking for. Please share your thoughts below. 👇🏾