The Power of "Weak" Connections

Question:

I know how important networking is to job search, especially while we’re all on quarantine. But I’ve already talked to my friends and family, and even a few former colleagues. Nobody has any leads or ideas for me. Now what?

Answer:

You’re off to a good start with people you know well. Now add a few you don’t know so well.

We all have strong connections and weak connections: people we know well and are close to, and people we know casually. Both types are very valuable to your network.

It’s obvious why the strong connections are important. They know you; they know your skills; they know your history; they know your personal strengths and weaknesses. Some of them also know your field, and probably know some job openings that might work for you.

But those weaker connections are beneficial too. For one thing, you probably have a lot more of them; most people do. They will have ideas that escape those who know you well, because they have a less firm idea of your personal brand. These will be the out-of-the-box thinkers who will bring ideas that would never have occurred to you otherwise. They could set you on a whole new career path, or alert you to openings in companies you didn’t know about.

You can even use the quarantine to your advantage now. It’s perfectly valid to call practically anyone you’ve ever known to say, “I was thinking of you; are you and your family all right?” From there it’s a matter of catching up. No doubt you have news (maybe even a job lead) that will benefit them too.

The downside of the strong connections is that they tend to know the same information that you already know, especially the ones you’ve worked closely with. The upside of weaker ties is their fresh perspective; plus it’s fun to get back in touch. You have the perfect excuse now, and it’s one of the few benefits of being out of work. So step out of your comfort zone, and pick up the phone!