--- description: Networking the Right Way Spend less time talking to close friends and more time with acquaintances. Via Malcolm Gladwell’s excellent book The Tipping Point: How... title: 3 Secrets to Finding a Great Job image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blted0a52cb7f2893f2/6986a3b806f2c1720f330c23/78749407.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # What Are the 3 Secrets to Finding a Great Job? by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 17, 2014 4:01 AM CUT  Young Man Nervous about Job Interview Young Man Nervous about Job InterviewFuse—Fuse/Getty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 17, 2014 4:01 AM CUT **Networking the Right Way** Spend less time talking to close friends and more time with acquaintances. Via Malcolm Gladwell’s excellent book [The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316346624/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316346624&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Why are people you’re less close to more valuable in terms of finding a job? You’re more likely to know the same people and things your good friends do. **Acquaintances “give us access to social networks where we don’t otherwise belong.”** From Charles Duhigg’s fantastic book [The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400069289/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): --- > “” --- Networking is vital to [staying employed, salary growth and job satisfaction](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/the-secret-to-getting-a-job "undefined"). Employees with larger networks [perform better](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-prospective-employees-be-judged-by-the "undefined"). Networking has even been shown to be vital [for drug dealers](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-networking-important-for-drug-dealers-too "undefined"). The three best methods for networking are [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-are-the-three-best-methods-for-networkin/ "undefined"), and [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/5-difference-job-interview/ "undefined")‘s how to handle the job interview. **Finding the Right Job** But how do you know if the job will make you happy? Look for something that let’s you do those things you’re especially good at — your “[signature strengths](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/04/does-any-of-this-make-yourself-happier-stuff/ "undefined")“: Via UPenn happiness expert Martin Seligman’s book, [Authentic Happiness](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743222989/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20 "undefined"): * **Identify your** [**signature strengths**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-be-yourself-really-make-you-happier "undefined")**.** * **Choose work that lets you use them every day.** * **Recraft your present work to use your signature strengths more.** * **If you are the employer, choose employees whose signature strengths mesh with the work they will do. If you are a manager, make room to allow employees to recraft the work within the bounds of your goals.** **Job Satisfaction** So you get a great job. What can keep you satisfied with it? You’ll want to know all about [Flow and how to create it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-enjoying-work/ "undefined"). Beyond that, here are 10 things to keep in mind: * Right now [most people are unhappy with their jobs](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-most-people-unhappy-with-their-jobs "undefined"). A boring job can give you [a heart attack](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/can-a-boring-job-give-you-a-heart-attack "undefined"). And [those with no job are happier than those with a lousy one](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-people-who-have-no-job-happier-than-peopl "undefined"). Most people want to leave their jobs because they [don’t trust their employer](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-reason-most-people-want-to-leave-th "undefined"). Know what the [happiest and unhappiest jobs](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-are-the-happiest-jobs-what-are-the-unhap "undefined") are and [what motivates you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-really-motivates-us "undefined"). * “…[the strongest determinants of job satisfaction are relations with colleagues and supervisors, task diversity and job security](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-makes-us-satisfied-with-our-jobs "undefined").” * Job satisfaction isn’t just about your job. Try to make yourself happier: [overall happiness causes job satisfaction more than job satisfaction causes overall happiness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-happy-people-love-their-jobs-or-do-good-jo "undefined"). (Employers should try to make their employees happier too: [happy employees make for rich companies](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-happy-employees-make-a-corporation-rich "undefined").) * Job satisfaction is key because [work is often a bigger source of happiness than home](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-we-have-more-fun-at-work-or-at-home "undefined"), ironically. * Stop thinking so much about money. [Income doesn’t affect job satisfaction at all and job satisfaction affects income more than you might think](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-much-does-income-affect-job-satisfaction "undefined"). Happiness is only about what you earn [when you get paid by the hour](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/when-is-happiness-about-how-much-you-earn "undefined"). Being paid for performance [dramatically increases job satisfaction](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-performance-pay-increase-job-satisfactio "undefined"). More importantly, happiness [makes us successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-success-make-us-happy-or-does-happiness "undefined") – yes, that’s causation, not correlation. * Happy feelings are associated with “the fulfillment of psychological needs: [learning, autonomy, using one’s skills, respect, and the ability to count on others in an emergency](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-leads-to-life-satisfaction-and-feelings "undefined").” Try to structure your job so it fulfills as many of those as possible. * To reduce job stress [get a clear idea of what is expected of you](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-significantly-reduce-job-stress "undefined"). Overtime [isn’t worth it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-working-overtime-worth-it "undefined"). * On the weekend [get away from work](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-weekend-activities-best-help-you-recover "undefined") and stay active [so you’re not always thinking about it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-you-think-about-work-during-your-off-t "undefined"). People who saw time as money [had more difficulty enjoying ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-time-equal-money "undefined")leisure. [Here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/how-can-you-make-your-weekends-more-awesome/ "undefined") is a guide to making your weekends more awesome. * Have a good [relationship with your boss](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-much-does-your-relationship-with-your-bos "undefined"). A boss you trust is [better than a big raise](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-having-a-trustworthy-boss-better-than-a-bi? "undefined"). A little ass-kissing is [good for your health](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-ass-kissing-good-for-your-health "undefined"). Being friendly with co-workers [is vital too](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/do-you-need-to-be-friends-with-the-people-you "undefined"). * Enjoying our jobs has a great deal to do with [how much control](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-this-why-we-can-do-fun-stuff-for-hours-but "undefined") [we feel we have](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-to-prevent-mental-fatigue-at-work "undefined") and whether we’re doing [things we’re good at](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/does-be-yourself-really-make-you-happier "undefined"). _This piece_ [_originally_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secrets-finding-great-job/ "undefined") _appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/ "undefined")_._ **Join over 100,000 readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined"). Related posts: [What 6 rules should be guiding your career?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/what-6-steps-should-be-guiding-your-career/ "undefined") [What are the most sleep-deprived jobs?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/02/what-are-the-most-sleep-deprived-jobs/ "undefined") [What are the happiest jobs? What are the unhappiest?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/what-are-the-happiest-jobs-what-are-the-unhap/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3388228/what-are-the-3-secrets-to-finding-a-great-job/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3388228/what-are-the-3-secrets-to-finding-a-great-job/"},"headline":"What Are the 3 Secrets to Finding a Great Job?","datePublished":"2014-09-17T04:01:59.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T07:54:35.977Z","description":"Networking the Right Way Spend less time talking to close friends and more time with acquaintances. 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