Connections and Jobs

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Currently I'm looking for a job, any job that is in the federal government or in the private workplace but it will take months to even land a interview. From what I heard, if you have connections with friends you'll be more successful with getting a job a lot quicker.

Problem is that despite having various social networking accounts like for Facebook or MySpace, and going to places and asking for email address and knowing people that I keep running into in College or in various anime conventions, I don't have any close friends, only people I know that I keep running into.

Do you have to be close friends with someone for a connection to actually work for getting a job?

Not exactly. I mean if someone is willing to say "yeah me and _____ go way back he's are hard worker and he knows his crap" it can help, regardless of whether he knows even that much about you all that matters is that your employer thinks you'll meet his expectations.

No. Keep in mind also that it's from the other person's point of view - not yours. I think a lot of persons w/ AS feel like they have no close friends while the persons they hang out with may feel otherwise.

Also - it's unlikely a friendship will get you a job - it's more likely to land you an interview.

I've seen people making use of that at one job I had. They (this group of people) all knew each other from the "old days" when they all worked together for the same company. By then they were all working at different companies, but would keep each other informed about job openings at their new employer's. If someone was "looking" the word would he spread around the network. I heard once that most job openings aren't advertised -- people get them because someone knows someone looking and tells them about it.

I think the main thing is to let lots of people know you're looking for a job. Even "grandma" may have some unexpected connection -- new neighbor who she likes whose husband/wife works in the field you're looking to work in (or whatever).

I never had any network like that so I can't say much more about how to navigate that.

There was a time when that was true, but in the US now its illegal for a company not to advertise a job opening, or to hire someone without first taking applications and resumes. They may still hire someone based on recommendations or reputation, but in some companies their policy is so strict about following the letter of the law, they will only take blind applications through their own website - you could know the CEO of WalMart, but he can't get you a job, you have to go through the system. Of course if you can put him down as a reference, it couldn't hurt, but it won't guarantee anything.

I did find back in the 80s, there were certain markets where I couldn't even get an interview unless I knew someone who already worked for that company, or was a professional friend of the management. It was all about networking and I don't have that skill set.

This is news to me. I know government jobs have to be advertised, but I was under the impression I could go head hunting and select whoever I feel like in the private market. Can you please provide a reference for this?

No, you don't have to be good friends, acquaintances know where jobs are too. You just have to find a person who knows a company that is looking for someone. Depending on how much the company needs help, your friend might or might not need to help you get an interview.

No I don't believe you have to be close friends with someone in getting a job although it may help in getting an interview. It doesn't guarantee that you will get the job regardless of whether you are friends with that person.

There is a saying:- "It's not what you know it's who you know" and this means that if you know people it makes finding a job easier regardless of how many qualifications you have so having some kind of social network can be beneficial. I wouldn't know as I am not skilled in building connections and networking.

I grew up in a small town and most people knew each others business and it was easy for people to get jobs through other people they knew and they weren't necessarily friends with that person but I also think it is good to let people that you are acquainted know that you are looking for work. It's a start

Heck, those I might count as "close friends" don't have the pull to get me a job I'd be interested in.