Networking Reluctance 3 Keys to Overcoming It Networking Reluctance: 3 Keys to Overcoming It While experts may debate the exact percentage, almost everybody has heard by now that the majority of professional jobs today are filled not through published advertisements, but via personal networking. Not only do employers value the extra credibility involved when hiring through word-of-mouth referrals, but they also appreciate the lower recruitment cost and greater likelihood an individual will fit well with their organizational culture. Despite this reality, however, many job seekers continue to be uncomfortable with the networking process and asking other people for help, favors, and introductions. For some, the challenge centers around how to ask for assistance in the right way or to characterize their situation without seeming desperate. For others, the reluctance to network comes down to pride and a feeling they should be able to get a job based on their credentials alone, without relying on relationships.
