Survey: How did you get your job?

Posted on January 8th, 2009 in: Career, Job Survey

Layoffs are among us, even tech giant Google is apparently dicing off a significant portion of their workforce, more layoffs will come over the next year. For those that got laid off (or those that are worried about it, which is most) understanding the skills needed to land that next gig are crucial.

One of my goals in this new year is to help support the community around me. As a result, I’m launching a survey to find out how people recently got their job, in an effort to understand the skills, ways to find jobs, and other tips from those that have landed jobs.

Please take this survey then share it with others, I will make all of the data public (except names and emails) and will discuss the findings on a site I’ve dedicated to help folks get employed. Thanks to RWW for spreading the word on this survey. Bryan Person helps to read the word too.

Do note, I’m doing this outside of my day job, this is simply my way of giving back to the community. Please spread the word on this in order to help others.

Tweet this:
Take the survey: How did you get your job? http://snipurl.com/9n5ph

Filed under: Career, Job Survey  
  • Sue Anne Reed

    Jeremiah,

    I couldn’t believe that “non-profit” wasn’t in the drop down menu for Industry.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    I just added that, do you want me to update your response, if so, I can do in the actual data sheet

  • http://www.techipedia.com Tamar Weinberg

    Interesting. I can’t actually click on the survey link from Google Reader (it says I don’t have permission) but it works fine if I click via your website. Just thought you might want the heads up, Jeremiah.

  • http://jobmob.co.il/ Jacob Share from JobMob

    I’m on Firefox3 and right now clicking on the link has the effect of refreshing this page.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Tamar, Jacob that’s odd, here’s the link anyways.

    It’s to a google form.

    http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=prwoXdDNZAlgfjTcDo_ZxEw&hl=en

  • http://www.mclellancreative.com John Gillett

    Thanks for taking this project on…I look forward to viewing the results and sharing w/ my job-seeking pals.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Thanks John for spreading the word

  • http://www.fresco20.com Anh Hung

    I blogged. I analyzed a local social network for professionals. The product manager of the competitor read it and liked it, we became friends. He’s helping me get a job in his former company as a Business Analyst. The CEO of the company reads my blog too. But I haven’t got the job offer yet (they’re interested, the hiring process is long, not because I suck :P )

  • http://www.fresco20.com Anh Hung

    Oh, i didn’t read the entry. Taking the survey now. Anyway, don’t mind sharing it here if you don’t mind too :)

  • http://blattel.com Ian Brown

    Great idea and way to give back, Jeremiah– any chance you could add PR/Communications as a category under Industry? Advertising is missing, too, or did I do the missing on all?

  • http://genechuang.blogspot.com Gene Chuang

    I recently dug up an article I wrote on theserverside.com back in 2001 titled “A J2EE Developers Perspective on Surviving the Job Crunch”, which was well received and got more than 700 replies (this was before blogs, or YPN/Adsense :-$ ) Anyways lots of stuff I wrote in surviving Tech Bubble 1.0 still applies to surviving Global Meltdown Bubble 2.0. So hopefully this will help those who are searching: http://genechuang.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-meet-2001.html

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Ian

    PR, communications and advertising can go under Marketing. This list is from monster.com so I’m using industry standard categories.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Anh

    I hope you take the survey, I will not be counting any submissions in the comments. thanks!

  • http://www.mediaalchemy.org Arturo Pelayo

    Hello Jeremiah!

    I couldn’t understand how to answer the survey for recent graduates who haven’t yet been hired.

    Thanks.

  • http://retaggr.com/page/andrew Andrew

    great idea. what about those people who have decided to start their own company? surely there must be a number of people who feel this is as good a time as any to try their hand at their own ideas?

    it would be good to compare that stat to the number who looked for new work and got it.

    thanks!

  • Erin

    I was neither looking for work nor out of a job when I found my current position, and I’m probably not the only one in that situation.

    Also, I found my job by volunteering first.

    Just some thoughts for future adjustment to questions.

  • http://www.designedbyanderson.com Lawrence Anderson

    The best advice I can give is to promote yourself as much as possible whether employed or not. You NEED to be on LinkedIn. You NEED to have a website with your relevant info. You NEED promotional business cards. Everyone should know what you do and how you do it. Also, I think blogging about topics relevant to your industry can help brand you as an authority & give you lots of positive google karma.

  • http://tjcnyc.wordpress.com/ Tom Cunniff

    Fantastic idea, and a great way to use crowdsourcing. I hope my contributions help.

  • http://www.alifr.com Alif Rachmawadi

    Done! Good survey. Hope it will be useful.

  • Patrick John OMahony

    Thank you for remembering and trying to help the people who have been hit hard.

    Pat O’Mahony, Dallas, Tx. USA

  • http://erichk.instantspot.com/blog Eric Knipp

    This is a great survey. Thanks!

  • http://www.jcberk.com Jennifer Berk

    I’m surprised the list of methods doesn’t include mailing lists, which were my primary sources of job listings. I found that if I was already on the mailing list because I was interested in its topic, the jobs posted were probably good fits for me – much better signal to noise ratio than Craigslist, which was my second-most-important source.

    Looking forward to the data, especially people’s advice for staying current and what skills are needed now.

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    Thanks Jennifer, you can always write it in.

  • http://www.fresco20.com Anh Hung

    Jeremiah,

    I finished the survey right after I knew I needed to take it. Thanks for the effort. Cheers.

  • http://www.katenasser.com Kate Nasser

    Great idea to collect this information as an organic guide to nabbing that job!
    Kate

  • http://www.myrontay.com Myron Tay

    Am getting on it. Looking forward to the results.

  • Michael

    This was a great podcast for those looking for a job http://tengoldenrules.com/podcast/. sorry to post a link, but there are tons of ideas!

  • http://www.job-hunt.org S Joyce

    Excellent idea!

    I’ve been collecting similar data for a few years, focusing on the method used, and whether or not the person was an active or passive job seeker when they landed the new job.

    Would be happy to share what I have so far (rolling window of 24-months of data based on face-to-face interviews and, recently, LinkedIn responses). Not much detail on the job landed (not salary or job title).

  • http://caffeinatedmarketing.wordpress.con Jen Harris

    Thanks Jeremiah-
    I and two others in our Marketing department were laid off this year, just before the company closed it’s doors.
    I was on Twitter ASAP & had a job offer before I left the parking lot. I blogged & Twittered my job hunting experience for 3 weeks & it paid off.
    The two others in my department are now working independently & constantly have work coming in due to their relationships created on Twitter.
    Thanks again.
    -jen

  • Lindsay Lamb

    Jeremiah,

    We just went through a large layoff last Thursday, so your survey will be helpful to many hard-working people! Any way to e-mail the survey or post an alternative form of it? (our firewall blocks it) Thanks!

  • http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/ jeremiah_owyang

    The results will be posted on this blog and on others.

  • http://www.louishalpern.com Louis

    It will be interesting to see how (if) the connectivity of the digital age accelerates us out of the economic downturn caused by the credit crunch.

    Initiatives like this should help empower people in the new digital knowledge economy – well done Jeremiah..

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  • http://www.WinSheffield.com Win Sheffield

    i am a career coach and was wondering if you ever compiled the results
    Thanks

  • https://www.jobsindubai.com/job_list.asp?lstIndustryID=8 Bank Jobs Dubai

    I was referred by my friend and that's how I got my job, after that was history and everything seems to be working out fine.

  • https://www.jobsindubai.com/job_list.asp?lstIndustryID=8 Bank Jobs Dubai

    I was referred by my friend and that's how I got my job, after that was history and everything seems to be working out fine.

  • http://www.jobsindubai.com/ Emirates Jobs

    Finding a job in Dubai is not very hard, but it’s not very
    easy as well. The job market here works very differently
    from other places. So if you are aware of those differences
    and work your way accordingly, you have a better chance
    of finding a good job in Dubai.

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  • http://www.virtualsocialmedia.com/social-media-marketing-optimization-services/social-media-pricing/ Social Media Cost | Rate

    Survey looks very interesting.

  • http://www.ukjobsguide.co.uk/Job-Centre/ Job centre plusaddresses

    Great topic and direction in a job search!With the current market being flooded with jobseekers,companies are implementing stricter criteria for selection. This article gave some great tips for creating a reference list.

  • http://www.publiceducation.org/ public education

    I appreciate with this post. Really cool stuff. Very interesting. Many thanks.