How do you look for work?

[hedgehog]

It's a serious question, inspired by this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014808827


Work your way through all the advice, and all too often it comes down to "networking". That's a new term for the old practice of hearing about a job opening from someone you know. But what if you're a fresh college grad and don't know anybody?

[Capt. Obvious]

1. Why don't you call and ask if they're hiring?

[hedgehog]

6. Rather snide response - I suspect you haven't faced what a lot of us have faced.

[Capt. Obvious]

8. Oh for the love of god

[hedgehog]

11. OK - I thought the advice was aimed at the person looking for work rather than

the person giving the advice.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

10. I think the meme is saying-

The person depicted in the photo (Romney?) offers overly-simplistic advice even though they have not personally had to look for a job in some time thus portraying the advice-giver as being out-of-touch and tone deaf to the plight of others.

[Capt. Obvious]

13. Yes, it's Old Economy Steve

This image is one of my favorites because my father still gives that advice.

[yallerdawg]

2. Very good idea, hedgehog! n/t

[underpants]

3. I got a new job 7 months ago

I was earnestly looking for a few months (2012 Kaine campaign and a break for the holidays) until I got my current AWESOME job in October.

I got with a placement agency (had 1 almost and 1 that fell apart at the very end), scoured the employment commission website and the state HR website. All done super stealthy as my then employer would have fired me (which they did when I sprang the news on them about the new job) at the drop of a hat if they had found out.

One piece of advise I would give is counter to the conventional wisdom - get your resume in front of as many eyes as possible. Don't be selective.

Also volunteer somewhere if you are out of work. It fills in your timeline and it exponentially expands your network.

[randome]

4. Handsome and stylish, as always.

Oh, that's not what you mean. Consulting companies work for me. I'm in IT.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[upaloopa]

5. Here is what I was told

Get a map and draw a circle as big as the area you are willing to work in.
Research all the possible places in that circle that would hire a person with the skills you are equipped with.
Find those people in those places that do what you are looking to do.
Call them up. Introduce yourself as a new grad looking for the kind of work they do. Ask to visit them at work to see how they do their job. While there ask them if they know of any openings. If they say no ask them if they know anyone else who may know of openings.
That potentially gets you 3 names for your network. Go on to each place in your circle
This shows you have initiative. Make something happen don't wait for something to happen. Be proactive

[TeeYiYi]

9. Good post. ..nt

TYY

[hedgehog]

7. Thanks for the tips - I've sent some new stategies on to a famiy member looking for work.

[yallerdawg]

12. If available, try temp-to-hire services.

You get to try out jobs, and if you like it and they like your work ethic, you got a match.

Or, you can keep the temp job and never have to piss in a cup!

[whatthehey]

14. anecdotal only

...but my experience is counterintuitive. I have worked for a slightly embarrasingly large number of companies - over a dozen even just counting FT "professional" jobs. Only one came from networking in any way and even that was just a jump to a consulting company working for my employer rather than the usual LinkedIn style envisioned by these articles. What has worked for me, from leaving school on to my late 40s, has been writing good cover letters, having a well-designed CV, and applying for anything that I thought I could do well. I am certainly not selective because I dispute the notion that an outsider is likely to know enough to be accurately selective, and because I don't want to limit my options.

I search nationwide, any industry, any size company, any title, every time. Yes like anyone else at my stage in life I have developed skills that make me more useful and attractive to some companies rather than others (in my case that's FDA regulated manufacturing companies running SAP software) but I would never dream of not applying to an industrial distributor using MAPICS if I were looking for work and they had a suitable opening.