Applying online vs "networking"

I've been doing some research on the best ways to get hired and the strategy that comes up most is networking. Almost all the websites I looked at state that simply applying online isn't effective because rarely do the resumes make it past HR or the computer screening processes.

Instead, they all recommend to network and get people to refer you. As an introvert, I've never done very much of that, but I know that to be true because that's how the people got hired at my previous jobs. Many incompetent people landed killer jobs just because someone recommended them. And that's even how I got my first IT job...3 people recommended me, but they barely knew me...I suspect what they were really after was the referral bonus. The difference now is, I'm not currently in the workforce and don't have many contacts in the IT industry.

Going forward, as someone that probably won't be "networking" very much to get my name out there, does anyone have any tips on how to sidestep the HR process and get resumes into the hands of hiring managers?

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Comments

techfiend

HR loves certs and keywords. For passing screenings someone mentioned keywords in white text in the margins. This was a common SEO trick until google started punishing it. Showing confidence, even on your resume goes a long ways.

As for networking, does a discussion among 10-20 techies sound interesting? If so check Find your people - Meetup

metalone4

Thanks a lot for that link. I just signed up and joined an AWS group near my area. There's a bunch of different groups that cover a wide range of my interests. If there's any hope for someone like me networking, it's something like that.

ImYourOnlyDJ

I work at a regional financial institution and here there is no choice but to make it through HR. Even if a higher up IT manager tries to push it through it still has to go through the HR filtering process (same with promotions). I can't really think of an alternative to networking and applying (except talking to an IT recruiter). I will say once you have that first IT job it seems the rest come a whole lot easier and if you are good the jobs almost seem to find you.

colemic

I believe networking works... but I also believe in applying online. I got into a very large DoD contracting org (CSC) applying online; I didn't know a soul there, and got a job in Germany. Most of the jobs I have, I have applied online for, as opposed to knowing someone on the inside. This is where a strong resume becomes vitally important.

Neither one are sure things. YMMV

DoubleNNs

Go to meetups (meetup.com, eventbright.com). They're almost always free and usually in the buildings of really interesting tech companies (the meetings need a conference area to host the event). You'll meet tons of people also in technology, meet the people who work at the company that the event is located in, and get some great info out of presentations and mingling. Additionally, you'll almost always run into people who are trying to recruit the guests at the meetups - especially if the topic of the meetup is for an emerging or hot technology skill.

Additionally, if you know a few companies you would like to work for, find some of the employees online on LinkedIn and message them. I did that at one point when I was aiming to work at Amazon. I got 2 people who referred me and helped set up an interview for me. I ended up not taking the role because I didn't yet have the skills to be a systems admin there and so they were only offering to let me work in their data centers. This was also directly after that huge article that described how horrible it is for some individuals to work there.
I didn't message the employees asking for referrals - I simply opened a dialogue about their experiences at Amazon and what types of skills were necessary to get a role in different positions. The convo lead to them asking for my resume and then to them sharing it with supervisors internally, and then eventually short-listing me and getting me set up with recruiters to facilitate the interviewing processes.

Even if you don't actively cold-message people, or go to meetups, keeping your LinkedIn up to date and having your resume out on a few popular job boards (dice, indeed, monster, careerbuilder, etc) will have external recruiters and internal hiring managers contacting you for roles instead of you sending your application into a black hole.

UnixGuy

I've never had a job using networking...all my jobs have been via applying online...