Hello,

Finding the best job matches has many benefits, including happier job seekers and happier employers. It feels very good.

Happier job seekers are more likely to need less job coaching and may require fewer supports over time, thanks to better job retention.

Happier employers are more likely to come back with new openings—and refer you to other employers on their networks, helping you support more job seekers with less effort.

But what’s the secret of finding those great job matches?

Research consistently says that the best strategy is through networking, informational interviews, business tours, and job negotiation. That’s why this month we spotlight these best practices.

In May 2025, employment programs using ES-Coach invested an average of 11 minutes per day in these best practices combined. See the "Networking" label in the pie chart on the right below.

Figure 1. Average Daily Time Invested in networking, informational interviews, business tours, and job negotiation combined (May 2025, N=52 Employment Consultants)

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How is your team investing time in these best practices?
What could your team do to invest more in networking, informational interviews, business tours, and job negotiation?

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Track progress in the ES-Coach dashboard. Go to the “Best Practices” tab and look for the “Networking” label. Celebrate your team's successes.

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ES-Coach is a project of the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston. It is funded by the Kessler Foundation through a Signature Employment Grant. Ending on June 30, 2025.

For more information, visit www.es-coach.org, email info@es-coach.org, or call 617-287-4306.

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Gut feelings can only take you so far – analyze the right data, spot the trends that matter, and adjust your game plan in real time (Dave Kline, MGMT Playbook).