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The Job-Search Move That Matters More Than Your Résumé
In today’s competitive market, submitting a strong application is just the beginning. The real difference-maker is what you do *after* you hit “apply.”
While it’s never been easier to send out hundreds of applications, standing out from a sea of AI-optimized résumés has become significantly harder. That’s why networking — building genuine professional relationships — often carries more weight than your résumé alone.
“People hire people, not paper.”
That’s the blunt advice from Andy Chan, who leads the Office of Personal and Career Development at Wake Forest University. He notes that too many job seekers treat the process as purely transactional. In reality, grounding your search in real human connections dramatically improves your odds.
According to Chan, the single most effective way to land an interview is to know someone at the company or have an internal person recommend you. That small endorsement can be the deciding factor that gets your application moved from the digital pile to a hiring manager’s desk.
Spend Most of Your Time Networking
Chan recommends a clear split for job seekers, especially those early in their careers:
- **60–70%** of your time networking and building relationships
- **30–40%** applying online
Most people do the opposite — spending nearly all their energy applying blindly — then wonder why they’re not getting responses.
If you don’t have many contacts yet, start with your college career office (many maintain strong alumni networks), or reach out for **informational interviews**. Ask someone whose career you admire for 15 minutes of their time. Do your homework first. As career coach Madeline Mann puts it: “If you’re going to ask for 15 minutes of their time, show that you spent 15 minutes of yours.”
Apply, Then Hustle
Jane Curran, Global Head of HR Operations at real estate company JLL, emphasizes that you still need to apply for suitable roles. But that’s only step one.
“After you apply, you have to turn that into a hustle,” she says. Go to LinkedIn. Find mutual connections. Figure out who knows whom. Look for ways to stand out and get yourself an actual conversation.
Networking Doesn’t Have to Be Exhausting
You don’t need to take someone to dinner three nights a week. LinkedIn career expert Catherine Fisher notes that effective networking is often about small, consistent actions:
- Leaving thoughtful comments on someone’s posts
- Sending a quick “thinking of you” message
- Following up after a conversation
- Offering help when others reach out to you
The goal is to keep relationships warm, so they’re there when you need them. Fisher stresses being **reciprocal** — networking works best as a two-way street, not a one-way favor request.
Don’t Ignore Your Résumé Entirely
Networking may be king, but your résumé still matters. Kathleen Powell, Chief Career Officer at William & Mary, points out that many companies still use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for keywords.
Make your résumé scannable and well-organized. If a human recruiter spends just 7–10 seconds on it, they should immediately see your strongest qualifications.
In a tough job market, your network is often your biggest competitive advantage. Apply strategically, then invest serious energy in connecting with real people inside the organizations you want to join.
The candidates who treat job hunting as a relationship-building process — rather than a numbers game — consistently come out ahead.