When I learned that 1 percent (yes ONE) of jobs are found through want ads, and that 70 percent are found through networking, I knew exactly where to step up my game.
A mere two weeks ago, I attended a Net2work meeting at the Des Moines Partnership office at 700 Locust St. in downtown Des Moines. I met at least a half dozen people I hadn't known before, added them to my connections on LinkedIn.com. The program was on using Twitter as a job search tool, and the discussion was lively and interesting. (Next session is Monday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. (same location).
Then last Thursday, from 10 to noon, I attended my first Unemployed in Des Moines session at Smokey Row coffee shop. It was a packed house as Des Moines consultant Cassandra Halls of "2 the Top" offered concrete suggestions on how to stand out at job fairs (e.g. research your top potential employers, apply for jobs before the show, learn who will be staffing the booth, ask for a few minutes on the side to learn about specific jobs you've researched). Met more people, heard some great ideas, stories of hope and challenge.
In the past week, my days have been filled with notes from fellow networkers, learning new resources, offers of information and connections, and encouragement. Why would anyone want to sit in front of a computer looking for positions that have an ice cube's chance in a very warm room when they could be talking to bright, innovative, tenacious and connected folks that know more than me and widen my reach exponentially?
Hmmm, don't really have to think long on that one. But I know I'm on the right road and encourage others in my spot to consider getting on the networking bus to success!
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