How does connected careers online work

One thing is indisputable: the job-search process is an unholy technological mess. With , Americans currently unemployed and currently looking for a job, recruiters are flooded with emails; job searchers sift through endless postings on socially connected networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, company websites and various other job boards.

According to him, Zappos hired about 1. And so the innovative online shoes and apparel retailer has made a bold decision: no more job postings. After all, job listings just got in the way of what hiring really was about: building relationships, Stacy Donovan Zapar, who is in charge of Candidate experience and engagement at Zappos, wrote in a post on LinkedIn. Job postings are a conversation killer. A job posting is that bright shiny object in the room that distracts from the real conversation and networking to be had.

It's a dead-end road, a recruiting black hole where applicants go to die or leave with a negative experience and impression of your company. They're one-way conversations where your candidates don't really have a voice. They're that sore thumb sticking out as we make this evolution back to old-school, relationship-based recruiting.

What Zappos does need, according to Zapar, is interaction with its potential employees. A chance to get to know each other. Sounds cozy and comforting. If you're over 39, you're rolling your eyes right about now. As the hiring process evolves to include not just custom career sites and job boards, but also interactions on variety of social media networks, there are certain demographics that have a distinct advantage — the computer savvy millennials.

And Zappos is an internet-based shoe company, so you really have to be at the very least internet savvy, I would think, in order to be considered there," he explains. Everyone has a smart phone now. Customer Success Tech Specialist Coming soon. This was a fantastic opportunity I was able to grab hold of, and wouldn't have been possible without the option [of working as a remote employee]. Working from home has been incredibly comfy at Sparrow and you'd never know I worked on a 2 hour stagger from the main team!

From our clever and funny developers to our experienced CEO, everyone mentors, guides, and challenges me everyday in User and Customer Experience designing; and also includes me in product strategy and decision-making — and for that, my career has never been more colourful, hopeful and alive. Working remotely makes it so much easier when I need to rest and take a nap during lunch break.

That said, we still look forward to being able to get together and share a meal as a team, or cover a whiteboard in ideas where and when possible. We also have some great perks and benefits with more on the way! Work from the comfort of your home. This will speed up your chances for success in the job-hunting race.

Invest in your network by following up and providing feedback to those who were kind of enough to offer their help. Thank them for their referral and assistance. Let them know whether you got the interview or the job. Or use the opportunity to report on the lack of success or the need for additional help. Without such an evaluation, there is little chance your network will adapt to your needs and future goals. You may not notice how bound you are to history, or how certain connections are holding you back.

And you may miss opportunities to branch out and forge new ties that will help you move forward. Taking inventory of your network and where it is lacking is time well spent. Your mere awareness of your needs will help you connect with new and more relevant contacts and networks.

Strong ties occupy that inner circle and weak ties are less established. Adding people to networks is time consuming, especially strong ties. New relationships invigorate the network by providing a connection to new networks, viewpoints, and opportunities.

Tap into your strong ties. Your strong ties will logically and trustingly lead to new weak ties that build a stronger network. Use your existing network to add members and reconnect with people. Start by engaging the people in your trusted inner circle to help you fill in the gaps in your network. Think about where you want to go. Adding people to your network who reflect issues, jobs, industries, and areas of interest is essential.

If you are a new graduate or a career changer, join the professional associations that represent your desired career path. Attending conferences, reading journals, and keeping up with the lingo of your desired field can prepare you for where you want to go.

Make the process of connecting a priority. Make connecting a habit—part of your lifestyle. Connecting is just as important as your exercise routine. It breathes life into you and gives you confidence. Find out how your network is faring in this environment, what steps they are taking, and how you can help. As you connect, the world will feel smaller and a small world is much easier to manage.

Maintaining your job network is just as important as building it. Accumulating new contacts can be beneficial, but only if you have the time to nurture the relationships. Avoid the irrational impulse to meet as many new people as possible. The key is quality, rather than quantity. Focus on cultivating and maintaining your existing network. List the people who are crucial to your network—people you know who can and have been very important to you.

Invariably, there will be some you have lost touch with. Reconnect and then schedule a regular meeting or phone call. It will always make you feel good and provide you with an insight or two. Keep a running list of people you need to reconnect with. People whose view of the world you value. Prioritize these contacts and then schedule time into your regular routine so you can make your way down the list.