The value of the value exchange “community” creates multiple opportunities to boost your visibility to recruiters and employers.
Whether or not you believe the often-quoted statistic that 70-85% of jobs are found through networking, there are online groups of like-minded people who help job seekers and influence the outcome of a job search. Sharing resources, knowledge, and tools creates a powerful experience for those who give and those who need help. Regardless of whether they’re organized “job clubs,” a community can bring success.
A community is created around an industry, skill, goal, or idea. Support, camaraderie, and organic connections deepen as ideas and interactions between members grow. When people find their community, whether they follow one another on the platform is secondary to online content and value exchange by participating. Engagement through commenting, posting, or “adding two cents” makes the user more visible. It’s a robust referral engine, not built on the promise of a “job referral.” Information, resources, and relationships drive creativity and meaning, making it a more powerful referral engine than a web search engine.
Many people say they belong to a fantastic community. But how can you tell if a community suits your needs during a job search?
Active community members catch the attention of recruiters.
Recruiters often identify the best-qualified candidates in specialized or industry communities. In addition to using tools such as keyword searches, advanced filters, and sourcing, they also look for expertise and engagement. It’s a sample of who the person is and if they are a cultural fit.
A great community is an army of great mentors and problem solvers.
Great communities create value from the overflow of their hearts, knowledge, resources, and time. Members are interested in finding what you need and are generous. When you find a community consistently offering nuanced advice and guidance, it feels like you belong. Members who value accountability enjoy accepting challenges to help them reach their personal goals and gain the most from their involvement in the community.
A great community is networking on steroids.
A strong community is a collaborative effort to create desirable outcomes instead of just answering questions. Most people add people to their connections to achieve their personal networking goals. The support and energy of the community are infectious and create momentum. As a job seeker, the more you participate, the more it enhances your job search and learning experience.
Honesty and integrity are the foundations of a great community.
As a new member, if a group of people appears too good to be true, it probably is. The best groups will have members with contrarian points of view who care about providing correct and relevant information for job seekers. Opposing views are discussed amicably while respecting the space and experience of the people. This dynamic provides a framework for job seekers to deploy strategies that work for them. You grow to trust and embrace the advice, confirming the adage, “Many advisers win the war.”
Good communities motivate and inspire longevity.
Your job search efforts are controlled, but the hiring decisions are with the employers. It could take months to get a job in some industries. Most people need others to be in the trenches with them, if not by experience, at least in spirit. Everyone knows job searching is hard, even if they have what companies need. LinkedIn users who announce they are “Open to Work” using the #opentowork hashtag and banner and share their layoff or quitting experience receive high visibility. Their visibility is several times higher when their community reposts the announcement on their network. The announcement often draws attention from recruiters, supportive comments from others outside their network, and encouragement to keep going.
Great communities amplify your achievements and impact your efforts.
Great advice and counsel get shared through what people learn and pass on or how they are personally affected. Their testimonies can add significance to a message from its members. Good ideas enhance discussion and participation, and additional content expands its reach outside the community and adds to its unofficial numbers.
Not all communities will meet every need of an individual. Most people will look at comments and won’t participate, but they miss out on the value of participating in discussions. While recruiters and talent acquisition professionals find non-participants on social platforms, the boost from participating is significant. Don’t forget recruiters and employers are watching and looking for future employees who are already part of their community or similar communities in which you’re already participating.
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About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.