Employment Spot

Networking – Want to get a job?

Last Spring, I received an e-mail from a student who was planning to spend the summer in Boulder, Colorado. He had gotten my name from a list of Northwestern University alumni living in Colorado and asked if I could offer any advice. As luck would have it, our Denver office was looking for a summer intern. He was interviewed and hired. If you are looking for a job, start networking. So many opportunities arise from someone who knows someone who has a sister who works for the company you’ve always dreamed of working for. The key is to get the word out – let others know that you are looking for a new job. So where do you begin?

If you have a college degree, a good place to start is the alumni office of your alma mater. Often, you can request names of alumni who are willing to offer advice to other alums in their region or industry. For international alumni networking, try the World Alumni Net. To tap into high school networks, try Classmates.com. Contact alumni in the geographic area or industry you have an interest in. You never know what doors they might be able to open for you.

Other sites have emerged to connect you with people who share similar interests or education. Vault.com provides you with networking and job search guidance. Search for inside contacts at a company, connect with folks who work in your desired industry, recruit the help of volunteer advisors, add your resume to the database and much more.

Once you’ve identified some promising contacts, be sure not to scare them away with a direct plea for a job. The best approach is to seek advice or referrals.

If your past gets you nowhere, venture into cyberspace to meet new folks. At places like Yahoo! Chat, you can join in on current discussions of topics that interest you. At Google Groups, you can scan and post to newsgroups and find potential networking opportunities.

Regardless of what happens in your job search, be sure to thank those who provided you with help along the way. They may not have a hot lead for you today, but they could have the key to many dream jobs of tomorrow.

   — Stephanie Benes