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That assumes those people keep an active network. While I - a freelancer - am still connected with former colleagues through LinkedIn I don't expect to ever get

That assumes those people keep an active network. While I - a freelancer - am still connected with former colleagues through LinkedIn I don't expect to ever get a job through any of them, and vice versa, despite having much enjoyed working with them and received offers to do a project together while we were together at a particular job. It's just that we have had zero contact apart from the time we were on the project together. It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email "would you know a job for me", no matter how well we worked together. You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. If I was asked by someone by someone I once knew I would immediately feel like an unwritten and unspoken social contract was broken. It just doesn't feel right to me. After a few years it's just too much time that has passed. It feels like putting social pressure on them, similar to those "endorsements" on LinkedIn.

morgante 10y ago
> You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. You are definitely an outlier in the industry. By far the most common way to hire people is through referrals. Whenever I am looking for a new job, I send out emails to my network saying I'm looking for a new opportunity and to let me know if they know anything interesting. It's a win-win for everyone.
- Noseshine 10y ago
  > definitely Source? > Whenever I am looking for a new job So a sample of one against a sample of one is "definitely"? :-) I have yet to see anyone do that, and I'm connected to quite a few colleagues from when I was still employed, not just from the freelancer period.
  - morgante 10y ago
    Even in this thread you can find many people besides myself attesting to the consistent power of referrals in most hiring. In fact, that's even one of the central I am, frankly, amazed that you have never had a former colleague approach you about a job opening they had or express that they're looking for a new job. That's literally one of the most basic uses of networking out there, not to mention that many companies have explicit cash bonuses for referring new hires. Here's a recent survey showing that most hiring comes through networking: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-survey-reveals-85-all-jobs-filled-via-networking-lou-adler https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-survey-reveals-85-all-job...
    - Noseshine 10y ago
      > Even in this thread you can find many people So a lot of anecdotes. That is not what I'm looking for when I ask for a source, you know. > I am, frankly, amazed Doesn't that show that your experience is limited? > Here's a recent survey That looks like it's based overwhelmingly on US-based results? I'm not in the US.
      - morgante 10y ago
        > That looks like it's based overwhelmingly on US-based results? I'm not in the US. So what? I did not say that you specifically could only get jobs through networking, I said it is the predominant method of hiring. You literally have nothing but your own anecdotes on your side. I have a bunch of anecdotes in this thread, not to mention actual data.
        Noseshine 10y ago
        > So what? I did not say that you specifically could only get jobs through > networking, I said it is the predominant method of hiring. And I said your "proof" only seems to apply to the US. > I have a bunch of anecdotes in this thread, You are a funny chap, unfortunately a little on the ridiculous side without seeming to notice it yourself.
        Noseshine 10y ago
        > So what? I did not say that you specifically could only get jobs through > networking, I said it is the predominant method of hiring. And I said your "proof" only seems to apply to the US. > I have a bunch of anecdotes in this thread, Are you trying to be funny? I can't tell, but I cannot imagine this was meant to be a serious comment.
user5994461 10y ago
> It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email "would you know a job for me", This practise seemed alien to me as well... but it turns out that it really is a common and accepted practise.
aianus 10y ago
Most companies give cash bonuses to current employees if they successfully refer someone. I'm sure they'd be happy to have a shot at that money if nothing else.
- jazzyk 10y ago
  Bonuses almost never apply to referring freelancers.
- mgkimsal 10y ago
  Typical bonuses I've seen are $100-$500. Recruiters usually get ~20% of the first year salary.
cheriot 10y ago
It doesn't require an active network at all. > It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email If you ever have a reason to send that email I hope you do. Most people enjoy a chance to help someone out and they'll often get a bonus for it. I've gotten emails from people I didn't actually know and just sent them on to the recruiting team. For people I did know or had a trusted recommendation for I'd follow up with the hiring manager directly.
sokoloff 10y ago
> It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email "would you know a job for me", no matter how well we worked together. You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. If I was asked by someone by someone I once knew I would immediately feel like an unwritten and unspoken social contract was broken. It just doesn't feel right to me. Anyone that I worked with (even 20 years ago) and who was a good colleague then would be more than welcome to ask me for help in a job search. I'd think of it as totally normal and something that I'm happy to do.
GrumpyYoungMan 10y ago
>You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. Maybe you don't but a great many people do, myself included. If you did a great job, people remember that. Of the colleagues I've worked with in the past that I respected, I would have no hesitation in passing on leads to them or referring them to my current employer.

morgante 10y ago

> You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. You are definitely an outlier in the industry. By far the most common way to hire people is through referrals. Whenever I am looking for a new job, I send out emails to my network saying I'm looking for a new opportunity and to let me know if they know anything interesting. It's a win-win for everyone.

Noseshine 10y ago
> definitely Source? > Whenever I am looking for a new job So a sample of one against a sample of one is "definitely"? :-) I have yet to see anyone do that, and I'm connected to quite a few colleagues from when I was still employed, not just from the freelancer period.
- morgante 10y ago
  Even in this thread you can find many people besides myself attesting to the consistent power of referrals in most hiring. In fact, that's even one of the central I am, frankly, amazed that you have never had a former colleague approach you about a job opening they had or express that they're looking for a new job. That's literally one of the most basic uses of networking out there, not to mention that many companies have explicit cash bonuses for referring new hires. Here's a recent survey showing that most hiring comes through networking: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-survey-reveals-85-all-jobs-filled-via-networking-lou-adler https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-survey-reveals-85-all-job...
  - Noseshine 10y ago
    > Even in this thread you can find many people So a lot of anecdotes. That is not what I'm looking for when I ask for a source, you know. > I am, frankly, amazed Doesn't that show that your experience is limited? > Here's a recent survey That looks like it's based overwhelmingly on US-based results? I'm not in the US.
    - morgante 10y ago
      > That looks like it's based overwhelmingly on US-based results? I'm not in the US. So what? I did not say that you specifically could only get jobs through networking, I said it is the predominant method of hiring. You literally have nothing but your own anecdotes on your side. I have a bunch of anecdotes in this thread, not to mention actual data.
      - Noseshine 10y ago
        > So what? I did not say that you specifically could only get jobs through > networking, I said it is the predominant method of hiring. And I said your "proof" only seems to apply to the US. > I have a bunch of anecdotes in this thread, You are a funny chap, unfortunately a little on the ridiculous side without seeming to notice it yourself.
      - Noseshine 10y ago
        > So what? I did not say that you specifically could only get jobs through > networking, I said it is the predominant method of hiring. And I said your "proof" only seems to apply to the US. > I have a bunch of anecdotes in this thread, Are you trying to be funny? I can't tell, but I cannot imagine this was meant to be a serious comment.

user5994461 10y ago

> It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email "would you know a job for me", This practise seemed alien to me as well... but it turns out that it really is a common and accepted practise.

aianus 10y ago

Most companies give cash bonuses to current employees if they successfully refer someone. I'm sure they'd be happy to have a shot at that money if nothing else.

jazzyk 10y ago
Bonuses almost never apply to referring freelancers.
mgkimsal 10y ago
Typical bonuses I've seen are $100-$500. Recruiters usually get ~20% of the first year salary.

cheriot 10y ago

It doesn't require an active network at all. > It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email If you ever have a reason to send that email I hope you do. Most people enjoy a chance to help someone out and they'll often get a bonus for it. I've gotten emails from people I didn't actually know and just sent them on to the recruiting team. For people I did know or had a trusted recommendation for I'd follow up with the hiring manager directly.

sokoloff 10y ago

> It would feel extremely awkward to now, years later, send them an email "would you know a job for me", no matter how well we worked together. You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. If I was asked by someone by someone I once knew I would immediately feel like an unwritten and unspoken social contract was broken. It just doesn't feel right to me. Anyone that I worked with (even 20 years ago) and who was a good colleague then would be more than welcome to ask me for help in a job search. I'd think of it as totally normal and something that I'm happy to do.

GrumpyYoungMan 10y ago

>You just don't do that, at least I wouldn't. Maybe you don't but a great many people do, myself included. If you did a great job, people remember that. Of the colleagues I've worked with in the past that I respected, I would have no hesitation in passing on leads to them or referring them to my current employer.