Reader poll time…How many of you rolled out of bed this morning, poured a cup of coffee, perused your phone messages and then opened up the laptop to scroll your professional networking site, all while wearing your pajamas. Now how many of you consider that two hours you spent searching and looking for job prospects a hard day’s work of looking for a new career? While networking with colleagues, recruiters and industry professionals via the internet is an excellent option for finding that next gig, it shouldn’t be you only, or even primary, source of lead generation.

Professional and social networking sites can be an excellent source of job listings for some people. While these venues offer a host of information, they are also increasingly jam packed with marketing, advertising and spam links and listings designed to generate clicks more than actual jobs. Don’t give up that LinkedIn account just yet, but we have a few other actionable ways to generate interviews for real positions that just might help you find your career match all the faster.

Get Out into the Real World

Searching for jobs from the comforts of home while wearing your PJ’s can only get you so far in the career hunt. If you live near a major metropolitan area, chances are there are dozens if not hundreds of IRL networking activities every week. Most of these don’t require any kind of fee to attend and some will even wine and dine you in exchange for listening to an industry related pitch. If your job field requires specialized certification, you can also earn valuable continuing education credits, knocking off two birds with one venture into the outside world. Be sure to mingle, collect business cards and keep your ears out for prospects.

Talk to Your Friends and Colleagues

Another task that will require you to resort to contact with another actual living and breathing human being, reaching out to friends, college buddies or former work colleagues can be a great resource for hidden career gems. Some of the best placements can come from a personal recommendation, so don’t be afraid to work those contacts. As a bonus, you will up your social calendar and spend less time on the couch with the dog and more time building lasting relationships, both personal and professional.

Talk to A Recruiter or Career Advisor

When push comes to shove, nothing beats having a little bit of professional advice and guidance in your hunt for a career making position. While many people are used to working with recruiters who represent companies looking to fill individual positions, these same folks will also keep a selection of resumes on hand for candidates that have great backgrounds, just in case the right fit comes along. Recruiters routinely have their ears to the ground and generally have a good read on their industry/niche on who is hiring or looking for someone with a particular set of skills.

The Moral of the Story…

Whether it be a cocktail function for the best practices in your industry or speaking with a professional recruiter, a job search should be more than just trolling your LinkedIn account while attempting to generate leads. Getting out into the real world and using personal contact is still the tried and true method for landing interviews. So, put down that remote control, step away from the laptop and change out of your PJ’s. The real world is out there along with a host of interviews in positions that would be just right for you.