Going through people you know (and people they know) is possibly
the best way to land a job in today's tough economy. Your
"network" includes all the people you know: your friends and
family, neighbors, acquaintances, lawyer, doctor, professors,
classmates, and anybody else you can think of. All of these
people have networks of their own. The more people in your
network, the greater your chances of knowing someone who knows
someone (who knows someone) who can help you get your dream job.
Make a list of the people in your network and tell them what
you're looking for. If they can help you out, then great. If not,
they might know of someone who can. Second (or third, or fourth)
-degree connections can be a great resource.
When contacting second-hand connections by phone, keep in mind
that these people (for the most part) will consider your call a
compliment. Tell them by whom you were referred and what you're
looking for. Listen to what they have to say and as you bring the
call to a close, consider asking if you can send along your
resume. At the very least, be sure to give your phone number and
offer to return the favor some day. And it couldn't hurt to
follow up with a written thank-you within a week, and then
another if and when any information the contact gave you leads to
a job offer.
Getting to Know You
In addition, it may be useful to set up an informational
interview. When your networking efforts lead you to a person
who's totally familiar with your industry, try setting up a
meeting with that individual. Unlike a job interview, this is
your chance to ask most of the questions. At an in-person meeting
with a good contact, you're more likely to get that person's
undivided attention.
A few pointers when setting up an informational interview:
Prepare specific, intelligent questions — only those that an
insider can answer. Typical questions include: Is there anything
you can do to prepare yourself for the job you want? Does this
person know of any companies, departments or managers that you
should target? And so on. And again, you should follow up with a
thank-you note or email within a day or two.
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