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Jason Alba blogged today about the difference in a company's speed-to-hire versus a job-seeker's speed-to-be-hired

When I explain this to people, I think back to Econ 101 when they explained the purpose of "Money" in that it prevents the problem of the Dual Coincidence of Wants (Wikipedia).

Wikipedia: "The problem is caused by the improbability of the wants, needs or events that cause or motivate a transaction occurring at the same time and the same place."

This applies to job-seeking (and recruiting, if you are an employer) in the sense that the person a company would most-like to hire is probably not looking right now.

And, it's likely that, when the person is looking, the company that would have loved to hire her/him is now either not looking, or unable to create the position within their budget.

In fact, I go on a limb to say that it is more likely that company and candidate are not simultaneously interested in eachother.

This problem is broken in the same way that money (in the economic context) solves the dual-coincidence of wants problem.  Money is the medium-of-exchange, and it's purpose is to create a common ground--a marketplace, if you will--wherein the two would-be traders (one who wishes a service, and another who wishes to provide it) can effectively trade.

Some representations of money in the recruiting world:

• Raising Salaries & benefits
• Signing Bonuses & Referral Fees
• Job Boards (and, now, vertical job search)
• Resume Databases
• Applicant Tracking Systems ~or~ filing cabinets full of resumes
• Networking events
• Chambers of commerce
• Piles of Business Cards
• Linked In
• Word-of-Mouth
• Recruiting Agencies/Headhunters

All of these methods help applicant and opportunity get better aquainted.  Some are more-effective than others (value).  Some are (obviously) more expensive -- in time or money -- to use (cost).

The job-seeker who takes it all on their own to find work may be out there for a long time.  Skilled, methodical processes are the key.  As Jason said, the sales-cycle of the job-hunt could take months or years to produce fruit ready to harvest.

I recommend, in the mean-time, that you Never Eat Alone.