You have heard of "it's not what you know, but who you know," but is that saying still important when searching for a job?

Answer: 70%

Questions:

• If about 70% of jobs are never advertised, how do you think that most people find jobs? 
• For those who have jobs/had jobs, what was your process to find work?
• What do you think are the skills needed to be an effective networker?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (CNBC) :

“The old adage “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” has perhaps never been more true.

Today, some estimates suggest that up to 70% of all jobs are not published on publicly available job search sites, and research has long shown that anywhere from half to upwards of 80% of jobs are filled through networking. Looking ahead to a dramatically shifting labor market, the worth of networks only stands to grow. According to experts at Deloitte’s Future of Work practice, tomorrow’s job seekers will increasingly need to “find others who can help them get better faster — small workgroups, organizations, and broader and more diverse social networks.”

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Check out the NGPF Career Unit for more lessons and activities including a lesson on how to land that first job. 

About the Author

Mason Butts

After graduating from UCLA with a Master's in Education, Mason spent 5 years as a science educator in a South Los Angeles public high school. He is committed to supporting the holistic growth of all students and empowering them to live a life of relational, academic, and financial success. Now settled in the Bay Area, Mason enjoys facilitating professional developments and partnering with educators as they prepare students for a bright financial future. When Mason is not building curriculum or planning a training, he can be found cycling, trying new foods, and exploring the outdoors.