Networking.... Anywhere

In yesterday's entry, I talked about having  networking skills. This is  a skill I am still working on the basics. Anyway, today I have just interviewed for a position taking orders for a big national retailer. The thing is, it would be nice to have the perfect people around to network through that is in the perfect career field. However, I bet that rarely happens. So, today I am committed to be prepared to network wherever I go.

The idea started with just the idea to network at the possible new job I met get, but there is plenty of opportunity to network ANYWHERE you go. Start a conversation with the person behind in line at the grocery mart. Use networking sites, and take advantage of any opportunity. An employer is much more likely to be upfront with you when it is not during an interview and they can lay things on the line.

Til tomorrow,
Josh

It's Who You Know

We've all heard the phrase "It's who you know" and maybe believe it to a certain degree. However, my brother's friend has been trying to get a job on a production set for quite some time. He has applied to countless places for any kind of work. Then one night he meets a guy at a party who works for a production company and has a job the next week working in production. The real kicker is that he had not been able to break into the industry for 30 years.  I know this is the type of example that is spread around quickly when you can't get the job you are looking for in the field you want. However, it still seems highly likely that the only way to get in the industry is to know somebody.

I'm not one to complain about it not being fair, how do you begin to create a network of people if you are not currently into the field? Is there a strategy in for an online social network out there? Has anyone had success at these type of strategies?