Networking & LinkedIn

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How does one network to obtain a job. I have been told to update my LinkedIn profile (that has never done anything for me and makes no sense and I have no idea how to use it to my advantage) by an acquaintance who might be able to get me in contact with recruiters in the area I will be moving to in 2 weeks (moving to get married, that is why I am moving with out having first secured work).

I have been told that getting jobs is all about who you know, but how do I get to know people in that manner. Do I walk around handing out my resume?

I am very confused about all of this. Any advise would help.

LinkedIn only works if people who know you "link" with you.

Monster is no different.

"Networking" means meeting people and making connections. The Internet only makes this easier over distance, but you have to have some kind of connection with the person to start with.

Then how does one get in contact with recruiters or connect with them some how?

LinkedIn can be useful. Be sure and include your resume and update all your skills on there, and send add requests to your former bosses, coworkers, teachers and professors, schoolmates and friends (the worst they can do is refuse.) Recruiters do cruise LinkedIn to headhunt people with valuable skills.

I got my last two jobs via Indeed.com, which aggregates job postings from multiple sources. Not every job is gotten via "networking"; I simply emailed application letters with my resume attached and got called for an interview.

It helps if you occasionally contact people for no reason, apparently. It seemed weird to me, too, but I've found that people really like it. If I try, I can usually remember some shared interest or connection that I had with a person from my past. Mostly, they'll have forgotten about any bad stuff, and mostly remember any good times we had. I found that I also kind of enjoy it, too, as long as I keep it real and sincere.

If you have kept in touch even a little, then your network will tend to offer you more help than if you just pop up out of the blue asking for their help. It made sense to me when I thought of it that way. I hope that my efforts eventually pay off in terms of finding better work, but the process has had intrinsic benefits, too.

Linkedin is the first place people will go when they want to know who you are (for work-related stuff, but often for non-work-related, too). It's your public face online. You need to have one. If you email people, they'll show up in your "do you know this person?" linkedin creepy thing, and then you ask to be connected. Those people have to approve the connection, but it's considered rude to ignore someone you know, and often people will approve a connection just because they approve all requests. When you have lots of connections, that says, "I am a social and friendly person, and people at least know me, maybe like me.

If you don't know how to make a good profile, ask your spouse, or wait till you're settled and find a good career counselor.

How you get to know people who'll help you get a job: well, how'd you find your future spouse?

We met on OkCupid, after purposely looking for people who met reasonable and meet-able criteria. That is sort of how I apply to jobs. I look for jobs that I have skills and qualifications for that are in my interest area. I write a cover letter for that company, fill out the application, and send out a proper focused resume.

I agree with their advice on beefing up your linkedin profile and adding people.

My current job (like every one I had before), I got through knowing someone. That someone left a consulting company and was forbidden from contacting his former clients. So, I looked him up on LinkedIn a couple of years later. Also, the HR interviewer told me she would be looking at my social media profiles, starting with LinkedIn, as a part of the process.

I have also never contacted a recruiter myself, but, I have had half a dozen local recruiters contact me, and a couple from other metro areas.

You sound like you know what you're doing, with focused cover letters, etc.

I'd search for linkedin groups that focus on your industry and see if there are any specific to that city. If you could join a group with locals with a similar skillset, striking up a few conversations or answering questions there could earn you some cred pretty quickly. You might also learn about learning or networking events for people with similar jobs, so you could get some facetime with them as well. Those events were tough for me at first, but, I've learned to deal with it, I just have to try not to get too overstimulated.

Best of luck.

I would also say to update Linked.In and add as many people as possible. Just a week ago I got a mail from someone at a major IT company who had seen my LinkedIn ( and GitHub ) and found wanted to talk to me about a possible job. ( Yes, it's the one I created a thread about. )

So yeah. LinkedIn can be very useful =)

Thank you. I have beefed up my linked in and am in the process of adding connections. I have figured out that one ought not contact recruiters directly, but attract them. And to have them to be more likely to see my profile, it is best to be 2nd degree connections with them.

This is very true. Especially if you are young with little experience, your chances will be way higher through recruiters. And to attract them, you need to be out there somehow.

What kinds of jobs are you looking for, by the way?

Work in the labs at chemical plants as a lab technician or lab assistant.

I found the job I was hired for a week ago (and start June 4) through LinkedIn. What happened was that I had my "A" list of companies I wanted to pursue. I found this one person who worked for one of my "A" companies. Got connected with her via LinkedIn. Then, through LinkedIn emails found out that her company was hiring. She told me to send my resume to her, and she would give it to her director. Then, the director called me to see if I wanted to come in and interview with the company. I did. Had a set of interviews that went tremendously well. A week later, the company (and a second company thirty minutes later) gave me a job offer. The first company counteroffered a day later, and I accepted the first company's counteroffer. So, I will be starting there on June 4th and look forward to starting my professional accounting career.

You asked, "I have been told that getting jobs is all about who you know, but how do I get to know people in that manner. Do I walk around handing out my resume?"

It's called "networking." Going to professional monthly meetings and doing informational interviews (as I did). It's all about getting your face out there so people know who you are. Yes, it's all about who you know and who knows you NOT what you know (those days are long gone). That's why my last semester in college I placed the utmost emphasis on networking, networking, networking (while I didn't do nearly as well in my classes). I got out there, met people, and made contacts. It's good that you have resumes on you, because someone may ask for your resume (as happened to me on several occasions).

This is my recommendation for you.....
1. Find something through one of the temp employment agencies while you are looking for more permanent work.
2. Start attending professional meetings in your new town
3. If you are under the age of 30, join your new town's young professional network.
4. If your graduated from college and your new town as an alumni chapter of your college, get involved with it.

Key thing you can do to help yourself is network, network, network and get yourself out there so people know who you are.

Hope this helps.

Good advice.