Networking

To get hired as fast as possible, in-person networking should be a high priority in your job search. The words we choose when communicating are only 7% of how we actually communicate (Psychology Today). And, when networking online through emails and messaging, word choice is the only part of your communication that is coming across. The most important components of how we communicate — such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice — are left out of online networking. That means the only way to fully communicate with someone is in person. As PhDs, many of us are…

Employee referrals account for 72% of all interviews (Society of Human Resource Management), and 1 out of every 5 candidates with a job referral gets hired (Undercover Recruiter). If you are not on LinkedIn building up your network and investing in your connections, you are missing out on a huge resource that will boost your job search. Not only that, networking often leads to referrals which will benefit you after you get hired as well. A referral raises wages of workers in their first year at the firm by 6.7 ± 3.4% (The Review Of Economic Studies). That’s an increase…

Referrals are the number one source of hires and are routinely how companies bring in the highest quality employees. Industry companies know how valuable referrals are, and they reward employees who refer successful new hires. 65% of companies have built-in bonus programs for rewarding employees who refer a successful job candidate (World At Work). Companies want to hire job candidates who come with referrals because they know they are more likely to find high quality employees. And, having a referral will benefit you in the long term, too. Job candidates who were referred by a business contact can see up…

Networking, with the the goal of obtaining a referral, is the fastest way to get hired. This is because industry employers value internal referrals. Employee referrals account for 72% of all interviews (Society of Human Resource Management). And, 1 out of every 5 candidates with a job referral gets hired (Undercover Recruiter). Companies prefer to hire candidates with referrals. Companies place a lot of value on referrals because ultimately, they make better employees. Referrals result in a higher employee retention rate — 46% at one year, versus 33% for candidates who were hired through a career site (Undercover Recruiter). This…

Women are underrepresented in STEM careers. Only 14.5% of engineers are women, only 26.4% of math and computer science positions are filled by women, and only 27.8% of professionals working in the physical sciences are women (National Science Foundation). As a woman with a PhD who is looking to get hired in the STEM fields, you are a minority. And, this makes networking very important. Because, as a PhD, you are qualified for more than just an entry position in industry. You have the technical and transferable skills required to secure a management position in industry. But, women are also…

A recent study found that 70% of people were hired at a company where they had a connection (LinkedIn). 70%! As a job seeker, you must know how to network on LinkedIn. If you do not know how to use LinkedIn, you are missing out on an enormous resource. The power of LinkedIn actually goes beyond your “first connections” because most job referrals come from second and third degree connections (Fast Company). And, not only do job referrals boost your chances at getting hired, but referrals have also been shown to increase starting salary. A study in The Review Of…

LinkedIn is a great platform to find and connect with industry professionals. It allows you to reach out to people who work at the companies you are interested in that you would not have had access to otherwise. To make the most of LinkedIn as a way to connect with people at your target companies, you can use the LinkedIn search feature, get introductions from people in your current network, and look at the company website to find specific people you want to reach out to. For the most effective use of LinkedIn, you should use a combination of these…

Job postings usually do not include the name of the person who you should address your cover letter to. And, you may be tempted to address your cover letter, “To Whom It May Concern”. Doing this will set you up to fail. Take the initiative to find out whose name you should put on your cover letter. Always call the company first if you are not sure who to address the cover letter to. Then, if that doesn’t work, you can try other tactics such as networking, reading the job posting more thoroughly, finding out who your supervisor would be,…

Getting a job referral is by far the best way to get an industry position, but you have to earn a job referral. The best way to accomplish this is through quality networking, both online and in person. Once you reach the place where you want to ask for a job referral, there are a few things that you need to make sure you do before you make the ask. You need to build a professional relationship with your connection, demonstrate that you have good work habits, show your passion for the position, determine if you are a good fit…

Recruiters are a great resource to use during your job search. But, you must make a good impression on the recruiter by approaching them in an appropriate way. Make sure you avoid common mistakes when reaching out to recruiters such as: trying to make small talk, contacting recruiters from a field unrelated to your target jobs, asking about only one specific position, having an unprofessional LinkedIn profile or resume, and not providing the recruiter with the information they need in the very first message you send them. As a PhD, you are valuable and recruiters can connect you with opportunities…

When looking for positions abroad, it can seem daunting and impossible. You face the problems of distance, cultural clashes, and visas. However, living in a different country can be extremely rewarding. It will broaden your perspective in a way no other experience can. The key to obtaining an industry position abroad is to start networking with people from abroad. If you wisely utilize online tools, have an active online presence, join international groups, and connect with other expats, you can easily network from abroad and successfully transition into industry.

A job referral doubles your chance of getting an interview and increases the likelihood you will be hired by 40%. Investing in your professional network, particularly your existing network, and leveraging those connections is the best way to get job referrals fast. Add value to those people in your network and create genuine connections with them. This will create opportunities where you can request referrals. PhDs are great candidates for top industry positions, and job referrals will make sure your resume gets noticed. Here are five ways to tap into your current network to get industry job referrals fast.