Advantages of cold calls are that some jobs are not listed anywhere else, the opening may be new, and you may be in the right place at the right time. Disadvantages include the time involved and the high rejection rate. One of the reasons for this is that employers do not like to hire strangers. They know that people who are referred to a company tend to be more stable and therefore will stay longer in the job. Advantages of networking are that referrals often guarantee an interview, jobs offered often are better with higher pay, and it is easier to develop a relationship with the potential employer when referred by a colleague.
Many people start their job search with want ads.
This is unfortunate because it is frequently a last resort for employers. Advantages of classified ads are that they list specific openings and have frequent new listings. They are widely viewed as ineffective, primarily offering low paying, low status jobs. Their main advantage is that there is no cost to the client or employer. Depending on the agency and the position offered, the fee may be paid entirely by the employer or by the employee, or they may split it.