Comments on: Q&A: No connections, no opportunities http://corcodilos.com/blog/711/qa-no-connections-no-opportunities The insider's edge on job search & hiring™ | Copyright © 2011 North Bridge Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:42:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aarthy http://corcodilos.com/blog/711/qa-no-connections-no-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-14175 Aarthy Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:29:08 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=711#comment-14175 Thanks for the ideas, Steve. I have worked with some cultural organizations and enjoyed meeting people from different places, and learnt a lot. I'm surprised I did not think of a similar setting to meet professionals in my area. Really glad you pointed that out! Thanks for the ideas, Steve. I have worked with some cultural organizations and enjoyed meeting people from different places, and learnt a lot. I’m surprised I did not think of a similar setting to meet professionals in my area. Really glad you pointed that out!

]]> By: Another Steve http://corcodilos.com/blog/711/qa-no-connections-no-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-14156 Another Steve Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:12:11 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=711#comment-14156 I agree, conferences are expensive on a grad student budget. Been there, done that. However, nearly all professional organizations offer student memberships at a fairly steep discount, usually about $75 a year, and have local chapters in major and mid-sized cities. Your university may also have a student chapter that brings in speakers and guests from the field. Think IEEE, STC, SHRM, ASTD, etc. Find one or two organizations related to your major and the work you want to do, attend a local meeting as a guest, and do what Nick suggests: talk to the people there about the work they do. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself as the new person to the group, but don't be afraid to turn the questions back on the questioners and ask things like, "How does that compare to your experience?" When you find a fit, join, and build your network from there. I agree, conferences are expensive on a grad student budget. Been there, done that. However, nearly all professional organizations offer student memberships at a fairly steep discount, usually about $75 a year, and have local chapters in major and mid-sized cities. Your university may also have a student chapter that brings in speakers and guests from the field. Think IEEE, STC, SHRM, ASTD, etc.

Find one or two organizations related to your major and the work you want to do, attend a local meeting as a guest, and do what Nick suggests: talk to the people there about the work they do. Be prepared to answer questions about yourself as the new person to the group, but don’t be afraid to turn the questions back on the questioners and ask things like, “How does that compare to your experience?”

When you find a fit, join, and build your network from there.

]]> By: Aarthy http://corcodilos.com/blog/711/qa-no-connections-no-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-14091 Aarthy Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:29:02 +0000 http://corcodilos.com/blog/?p=711#comment-14091 Although I live in a city, its a new place, and I don't have many contacts. As a grad student, you don't usually have the funds to attend every conference you want to participate in. I try to meet the people who give talks at my university, and attend alumni sponsored events. Its harder to meet people and develop relationships exactly when you need the job. It works better with time, but that's a luxury we don't always have in our job search. Although I live in a city, its a new place, and I don’t have many contacts. As a grad student, you don’t usually have the funds to attend every conference you want to participate in. I try to meet the people who give talks at my university, and attend alumni sponsored events.

Its harder to meet people and develop relationships exactly when you need the job. It works better with time, but that’s a luxury we don’t always have in our job search.

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