The future! It scares me!

Brooklynborndad
Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:04:32 +0000

If you were my kid, I would teach you about networking.

Make a list of everyone you know who is at all, in any way, connected with the world of work. Your uncle. Your profs in any field. Your friends. your dad’s accountant. your clergyman. Whomever. These are your primary networking contacts.

Call each one. Tell them that you are in a job search and need advice. If it is geographically possible, set up a face to face meeting to do this. If not, make an appt for a phone discussion. Send them your resume, just so they have a better idea of your background.

Do NOT ask them for a job. Do NOT ask them if they know someone who has a job opening. Do talk to them about the fields you are interested in. Ask for info (as you are doing here) ask them if they like what they do, etc. Ask them what fields/industries they think you should look at given your background and the state of things today. And then, if they have not already offered it, ask them for the names of people who might be able to offer more advice, might know about whats going in a field (esp the fields you are interested in). Try to get at least 3 names. Ask if you can use their name when contacting these people (usually folks will say yes)

Record, later, on a piece of paper the info they gave you, but most importantly the three names. Now, in addition to your list of primary contacts, you have a list of secondary contacts. When you call THESE people, you will say “So and So suggested I contact you to give me more info about field X”. When you meet/talk with them, tell them something about the mutual friend. Then proceed as above, with the goal of gaining info, letting them know about you and your quals, and getting 3 MORE contacts.

3 becomes 9, 9 becomes 27, 27 becomes 81 soon you will have more names to contact than you have time.

At some point one of those folks wont give you names - they will cut you off with an offer for an interview or something like that. Hopefully.

BTW, if you are a really good sociologist, you can think through why this approach is good, and how to focus on the most promising directions.