unfortunatley the network connections I have are mostly for retail and restaurant work. Both of which I am trying to run like hell away from. I am also looking into specific company websites and searching the listings they have posted.
Whose fault is that?
The other day I told one of my bar buddies to “upgrade the company you keep” (actually, I’ve been telling him that for years, but he doesn’t seem to get it). Quality people come into your life all the time, whether or not they stay is a function of you and your behavior. What kind of impressions are you making in person, via phone, in writing, via third parties? All of these things determine whether or not quality people bring you into their circles. These circles are how you meet other quality people, make good job contacts, etc. Having people like this in your life is important because in situations like the one you are in now (job hunting in a bad economy) you should be able to pick up the phone and tell people in your circle that you are “looking” and they will go to work on your behalf.
The last two people I hired were hired that way. In fact, that’s how I got
my current job, and I know that’s how I’ll get my next job. If you want to flip burgers or ring a cashier for the rest of your life feel free to ignore me, but if you want upgrade your job prospects, then upgrade the company you keep. In other words, upgrade
yourself.
There are guys on this board I would not hesitate to hang with, make a phone call for, or introduce to my A list circle. Doug_Steele, Alex23, Topskin, Giordano, etc. have shown themselves to be smart, educated, fun but not mean-spirited or bigoted. How many people (of influence) would say this about you? When I was a professor, I used to remind my students, “someone is
always watching you. And most often, it is not who you think it is. You are always making impressions on the people around you. Never forget that.”
While you are job hunting on sites like monster, hotjobs, etc. someone else is picking up the phone and being networked right into the job you are dreaming about. This happens in my organization every day… and it is happening all across the country.
Good luck with your job hunt.
