Q: Nick, by any factor, I now have the best job I ever had, one that is perfectly suited to me. Nothing was working until I took your suggestion and started making face-to-face meetings happen. Everyone is heralding the electronic age; however, in my case, going to see people was the critical difference. Tell others this is the most important tip in your book.

A: Another way to look at what the writer of this email is saying is to consider a point value scale for the four primary means to connect with your network. Let’s define the assigned points as productivity or impact points, the accumulation of which is likely to produce that next job you are seeking.

• Social media or email - 10 points per contact


• U.S. mail - 100 points per contact


• Phone calls - 1,000 points per contact


• Face-to-face meetings - 1,000,000 points per contact

In today’s world, social media is obviously valuable. Yet, in our experience, a letter or a phone call is even more likely to produce a job lead. With a few moments thought, I am certain you can explain why.

However, does it really take 100,000 emails to equal the networking or job connecting value of one face-to-face meeting? Is it more like 10,000 or 1,000 emails? You will have to decide for yourself. I find email and social networking to be valuable, but nowhere near as productive as a face-to-face interaction.

Let’s be clear, I am not suggesting what is easiest. I am affirming that the author of the above email is fairly representing what we see happen routinely as our clients secure their next career step. How to decide who gets a face-to-face meeting and how to make that meeting productive is a topic for a future column. For now, I am strongly encouraging you to look at this relative point scale as you work your way through your job search activities for this week.

Therefore, the question you may want to post on your computer screen as you complete your job search is, “Who can I go see?” You will be glad you did.

Send your career-related questions to me at nsynko@SynkoAssociates.com. To learn more, visit our website at SynkoAssociates.com or follow this column each Monday in AnnArbor.com.