While playing the game probably won't put you in a paying job, the premise behind it just might.
What if, for example, your uncle's secretary's spouse is a headhunter for a Fortune 500? Or, your friend's brother runs a multi-national company which has hundreds of openings?
It would be a shame to have those connections and not take advantage of them. But that's just what some job seekers are doing. They flood the market with resumes, ignoring the other cornerstone of an effective search: Networking.
Family First
If the word "networking" makes you break out into a cold sweat, start slow: Perfect your pitch with family and friends.
Your grandmother (or anyone else who is "so proud of her big-little- sweet-precious baby") may not be the best choice. Try your grouchiest relative. You'll need the most honest feedback you can get.
In Addition to -- Not Instead Of
If people can get together to buy Tupperware, discuss books or pick stocks, why not meet to talk about job searching? These days, more people are.
The Pink Slip Party, which one site describes as a "networking event and career fair hybrid," is one way. A small, intimate gathering of friends is another.
But no matter how varied your networking diet becomes, never neglect industry-specific events. These are the most effective ways to make and maintain industry contacts.
A Soft Sell and a Strong Handshake
Be prepared to be sized up when you step into the networking scene. Here's a quick list to help you stand up to the scrutiny:
Dress appropriate to the venue. If the event is at a person's home, a three-piece suit is probably not required.
Practice your handshake. Firm -- not abusive.
Pop a breath mint -- or two.
Don't be overbearing. As strange as it seems, some people attend these events to unwind. The strong sell won't work.
Take plenty of business cards.
Networking Goes Digital
Networking doesn't only happen in bars and hotel ballrooms. It can also happen via e-mail.
For example, when you search for a job online, you'll see lots of openings -- some of which you're interested in, some of which you're not.
If you see a job that doesn't fit your criteria, ask yourself whether a friend who is job searching might be interested. If so, send it to them, and ask them to consider returning the favor.
(You wouldn't want to do this with coworkers. The only person who should know about your job search at your current job is you.)
