This cartoon was for a magazine series on encouraging kids to bring their friends to church. It demonstrates why inviting a friend is so powerful.
When I first wrote this blog post, I had been going to job and career seminars in a new city. One thing I’ve heard repeatedly is that job postings on Internet sites are not nearly as effective as finding work through a friend. Since this was my first big move, I had no idea how crucial that was. It took a few months to make friends and find good work.
Job Search and Friends
When a company posts a job, they are likely bombarded with hundreds of résumés. It’s no wonder companies have resorted to software and keyword searches to sift out the candidates. Still, the process does little to find the right candidates. It only pays attention to keywords. It is more effective at filtering applications down to a manageable level than finding the right candidate.
As a result, we see many qualified applicants never get to an interview. A Vox article explains why though jobs are plentiful, the broken system keeps out the qualified.
Therefore, a connection with a friend at a company is so much more powerful. An algorithm knows nothing about a person beyond the résumé keywords. A friend knows our qualifications, character, and personality. That’s why referral bonuses are so popular at companies.
Pandemic of Isolation
When the pandemic brought lockdowns, we soon realized how much we needed community. We are social creatures. When we couldn’t meet our friends in person, it affected us. Many people are still dealing with the effects of the lockdowns two years later.
We need community. When we are in isolation, We are much more prone to physical and mental health problems. All of us want to belong. Health care professionals are finding that the mental health damage brought on by the pandemic could last well beyond COVID-19, I am hopeful we have learned we need to care for the whole person. Isolation is just as dangerous to our health as a virus.
We have been brought up to fear strangers. That has made friendships that much more powerful. When you’re inundated with strangers giving you information, who wouldn’t want to rely on a friend for a solution?
Friendships are more powerful than ever. That is why inviting a friend is so powerful. We need each other more than ever. Have lunch or coffee with one today!
I drew this cartoon for Kidzmatter Magazine.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
