How to engage young professionals in networking to give them the key to the hidden job market

Updated: Jun. 5, 2023  |  Categories: Meetings/Events, Low Engagement, Decreasing Membership  

Cities and states across the US are passing legislation requiring organizations to include salaries in posted job openings. Some companies are following these new regulations, while others are choosing not to post their jobs, worried that publicizing salaries could have a negative impact on their organization.

Those not posting jobs on their websites, large job boards and/or your association chapter job board, are seeing fewer resumes and finding fewer qualified candidates. It’s taking longer for them to fill open positions, which in turn can be affecting productivity and morale.

You may think your association chapter job board is the best way to connect members with jobs and qualified candidates. And many of your members will continue to use it. But there are other valuable services you already offer that can help your members fill their open positions.

Association chapter networking makes real connections

Association chapter networking is a great way for candidates to learn about job openings and hiring managers to find the people they need. It’s the key for people trying to access the “hidden” job market, e.g., those jobs that aren’t posted on job boards.

Your association chapter young professionals, younger in age and newer in their careers, may be even more attracted to finding jobs via networking instead of through your job board. These members are most likely millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Gen Z’ers (born in 1997 or later). They value building real relationships that further their career; believe that getting to know colleagues outside of work builds their reputation, and see networking as an important part of their professional lives. And they’re often not looking for jobs on your website.

Networking is a great way for your young professional members to build connections that help with their job search and help other members in your chapter find qualified candidates. Young professionals are about interacting face-to-face – virtually or in person – and making connections that leave positive impressions and keep them “top of mind.” Networking increases their visibility and makes them more likely to be remembered by a hiring manager, or the person who knows the hiring manager!

How can association chapter networking help young professionals?

With today’s tight job market, your young professionals are most likely part of a crowd looking at jobs that don’t require a ton of experience. They may find themselves applying for jobs along with candidates with much more experience.

Your chapter can easily provide members more time to network and make association chapter networking easier and more appealing, by better positioning your networking events for both your young professionals and your members with jobs to fill.

Here are a few ways you can make it easier for them to get what they need from your association chapter networking.

1. Add time to network. Leave a few minutes in your in person and virtual events for members to talk with each other. Ask at meetings if you have any members who have job openings to mention. Consider adding networking events specifically for young professionals and those looking to fill jobs, to connect.
2. Remind attendees to check out who’s registered for an event. Make it easier for them to be more strategic with who they approach and connect with, by reviewing the attendance list before they get there.
3. Segment your email lists. Get your different chapter audiences more interested in attending by creating unique messaging for your different association chapter groups. You could have a message for your young professionals, a message for those who could have jobs to fill and a message for the rest of the organization.

A note for your young professional association chapter members

Young professional association chapter members may need a reminder of the benefits of networking and what they can/should do to make the most of the time they spend on it. Effective networking is a whole lot more than just saying hi to someone. It’s all about connecting with the right people and they’re not always the people doing the hiring.

Create a young professional networking webpage and include the following on it. You could also hold an educational event focused on young professional networking that walks them through how to make the most of your networking events.

Here are five things young professionals need to know about networking.

1. Stay in contact. Being good at networking doesn’t mean meeting a person once and hoping they remember you. It means reaching out occasionally to remain connected, which can include doing things like sending emails when you come across information a new connection might be interested in and mailing snail mail notes.
2. Be open to meeting different people and hearing about new opportunities. You never know who you will meet who will know the person looking to fill the exact job you want.
3. Talk with recruiters, even if you’re not actively looking for a job. You may think that’s bad career etiquette, but you can network with recruiters as you would with potential employers, and it’s better to make the connection early. When you realize you need a recruiter, it’ll be too late to start to build the relationship.
4. Introduce yourself to people who work at companies you’re interested in. This is when name tags that include companies can be very helpful, as can reviewing registration lists prior to attending an event.
5. Interact with people. This isn’t the time to stand in a corner staring at a cellphone. This is good for networking event planners to keep in mind – more introverted young professionals may need a bit of a push to get started.

Don’t shut down your job board

We’re not telling you to eliminate your association chapter job board. But it’s also important to show your value to young professionals in multiple ways. Your young professional members and members looking to hire will continue to find value in your job board as well as your networking events.

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