CTE/FCAT CONNECTION
Monday, February 25, 2002
Contacts still best way to find job
By JIM HAUG
NEWS-JOURNAL BUSINESS WRITER
DAYTONA BEACH — When it comes to finding a job, pressing the flesh may be better than clicking on a mouse.
Despite the popularity of online job sites, job seekers seem to find more success through the low-tech methods of networking, according to local and national surveys.
In a December survey of recent Stetson University graduates, only three of 50 respondents said they found employment through the Internet. Two of the three added that "networking" helped them get jobs.
Another 10 respondents credited networking for their employment, said Dennis Ferraro, assistant director of career services for Stetson University.
Stetson's informal findings are backed up by a national survey by Drake Beam Morin, a consulting firm that manages work force reductions and helps displaced workers find new jobs.
In 2000, 61 percent of its "career transition clients" found jobs through networking, while 6 percent found them through the Internet. Drake Beam Morin polled 3,652 management-level employees who earn an average of $90,000 annually.
The online job companies say the Internet has revolutionized job hunting, letting recruiters search for exactly what they want and job seekers post their resumes for free. They're also popular with "passive job seekers" who post their resumes to see if something better is out there.
The trouble with online job sites is a thousand applicants may respond to a listing, said Ferraro. The applicant has a hard time distinguishing himself from the competition.
"The Internet is much less personal," Ferraro said, noting that many online job seekers cannot even include a cover letter in their applications.
Judd Everhart of Bethel, Conn., said applying through an online job search engine is a lot like "dropping a fishing line with no hook; no bait into a lake and trying to catch something."
"I would not rule it not, but to me, it's not the best source."
Everhart, who was laid off from a corporate job at the World Wrestling Federation, has only gotten a "few nibbles" from his postings at Monster.com and Hotjobs.com.
Claudine McKee, assistant vice president of career placement and career counseling at Bethune-Cookman College, said she "has heard of a few students who have found jobs through the Internet."
Job fairs and interview programs still produce the best results for job seekers, McKee said.
But the Internet is very helpful as a resource. Ferraro urges job seekers to do their "homework" before going to a job fair or a pro fessional gathering.
Knowing something about a company is a good way to impress a prospective employer, Ferraro said. Unimpressive are job seekers who ask employers what jobs are available.
"That's something they could find out from the company Web site," he said.
Networking is really about making contacts and building relationships, Ferraro said. So when opportunities become available, employers will have a "face" in mind for a new opening, he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
