Looking for a job? It's not what you know, it's who you know

[Hugabear]

I've read article after article that says networking is the key to finding a job nowadays. Most companies no longer post their job openings on job sites like CareerBuilder, Monster, or the local papers. They all pretty much say that if you want to get a job, you have to develop a network, and use your network to help you land a job.

IMHO, this is akin to pouring salt on an open wound. It's bad enough that there aren't that many jobs to be had right now. But it's even worse when companies in essence are saying "We have an opening, but we're going to keep it a secret, unless you happen to know somebody who knows somebody who works for us and knows about the position".

Shouldn't there be some sort of law to require companies to post job openings in a public setting? Seems to me that not advertising job openings could be violating some equal employment opportunity laws - if not an outright violation, at least skirting around these laws.

[Joe the Liberal]

1. Wonderful country we we live in......

Not.

America, where jobs, health care, education and justice are all now a privilege.

[Hugabear]

2. I can't even get an interview anymore

Last time I was unemployed, I at least went through a bunch of different interviews. Not so anymore. I've sent my resume out to plenty of places, and haven't gotten a single callback.

Fortunately I have a job with a temp agency right now, but that's the problem - it's a temp job.

[Joe the Liberal]

3. Same, I put in application after application and don't even get one call back. n/t

[elocs]

4. So it's not what you know, but who you know? This is a new concept?

I think in reality it ranks right up there with the law of gravity.

[RainDog]

5. those that do post for legal reasons already intend to hire someone sometimes

and post the job to meet legal requirements but create job requirements that are specific to the person they want to hire.

I know this is true because I've seen it in action and because the person who told me has decades in the area and told an entire class full of students... and the person was one of my professors in grad school who told lots of hard truths... after I was already in the program.

this is not always the case across my field but in one subset it is often the case. in my area, however, this isn't as much of an issue right now because jobs are frozen so no one is getting hired.

instead, people are getting laid off.

[Berry Cool]

6. Yep, they do this

so we're caught in a real trap: the really available jobs are not advertised, and the advertised jobs are not really available.

[CanonRay]

7. My father always said that to me.

He also said "If you owe the bank a thousand, they own you; if you owe them a million, you own them".

[Blue_Tires]

8. that's the way it's worked for awhile, sadly

it took the better part of this decade to finally learn the futility of simply e-mailing my letter/resume, or applying online at corporate sites...you've got to network, and make in-person appearances to HR departments....