Looking for work? For the greatest chance of success, you’ll want to expand your search beyond the usual online job boards and email alerts. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal says that up to 80 percent of jobs are never advertised, either online or anywhere else.
So what’s an enterprising job seeker to do? Network.
OK, it’s not new advice. But the good news is that networking, like everything else these days, has improved with technology. Now, there’s a way to connect for just about every taste and personality type.
If you’re an introverted type, LinkedIn and niche social networks for your industry might hold the key. If you’re a party animal, join trade associations and attend as many events as possible. And if you’re a person who likes to organize things, look into volunteering for a committee at professional events.
Regardless of how you get started, online or off-, eventually, you’ll have to take your connection into the real world. Career coach Melissa Llarena tells The Wall Street Journal that she advises her clients to “get face to face” with their search, asking their connections to hand deliver resumes to the right person in the company, whenever possible, and to set up informational interviews even when no openings exist.
“You’re there to learn about the company and what kind of skills they’re looking for but that connection could end up leading to a job,” says Llarena. “You’d want to maintain that connection with updates.”
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