5 Ways outside of Linkedin, Facebook or other sites to find a Job

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I am also equally amazed at the significant number of outstanding people who are contributing their advice to everyone and wanting to help others out (such as this blog and hundreds of others). It is to this group that this article is written about and how to tap into them. In my last article I wrote 25 ways to use LinkedIn to find a Job. There are countless others who have 5 ways, 10 ways, etc.. to use LinkedIn so you should have no shortage of ways to use that wonderful social software. With all these articles, thousands of readers are descending on these sources so what else to do. Here are 5 ways ( from #5 to the best at #1) outside of the 'new trends' that will work for you. You may have tried one or all, and if you have please comment so others can take advantage of what you found out: #5. Talk to friends within companies and don't ask them if they have openings, but ask them if you could see an organization chart or company phone listing. You're only looking for a couple names and phone #'s based on the job you are looking for. Most of your references will tell you 'no openings'. That may be true but find the person in their company that really knows. #4. Attend or at least register for a training session on your topic. Then get the attendee list - This used to be easier but some groups, particularly professional industry groups, make that readily available since everyone is a member anyway. For instance if you're a Project Manger, sign up for the next project management institute meeting. Hopefully you can make it. If not, find out from the volunteers who coordinate it to see if you can get a list of people there and the agenda that evening (the speakers are resources also). #3 – Put your information in ZoomInfo – Have you ever used ZoomInfo before? How about Hoover's or Jigsaw? All provide company lists and people in them. Where Hoovers is much more about the company both ZoomInfo and Jigsaw are about the people in the company. In Zoom Info you can create your own profile, like LinkedIn. ZoomInfo is widely used in recruiting circles and is another resource to get your name out there if the recruiter didn't find you on LinkedIn or FaceBook. Also, you may want to call ZoomInfo. Let them know your situation but would like to use their services when hired. Ask if you can have 24-48 hrs free trial then 'pillage' it for everything you can get out of it which will be ALOT. Stay close to the sales rep though and follow through maintaining that network. #2 – Get names from your Industry or Trade Association – Did you know that even associations have their own 'association?' There are 'trade' associations (such as for home builders, staffing professionals, Attorneys firms where a company is the member usually for legislative and regulatory reasons. Then there are professional associations such as American Automobile Association, American Marketing Association, American Trial Lawyers, and many others where individuals get involved to increase their skills and be with others in their field. The association for association executives (ASAE) is sort of the association for associations. From their website, they say 'in 2004, there were 86,054 trade and professional associations' in the United States. That doesn't count the over 1 Million non-profit charitable and philanthropic organizatons. I think you get the point…. there are LOTS OF ASSOCIATIONS and they are there to help you find a job… well, not really but they are usually great people that want members and you are a potential member. Use that to your advantage. #1 – I saved what I think is the best for last College & University Directories. You don't have to go to an Ohio State (my alma mater, so I'm blessed here) or a Univ. of Texas that graduate 10,000 students yearly and have millions of alumni. You can be a student at a small private, liberal arts college with 2500 students or a member of a sorority/fraternity at that college to take advantage of the many people who want to help fellow alum. Call the Outplacement office at the college at the university or the Alumni Office at the college. You will find a huge resource of people that will pick up the phone just because you said 'Hi, I'm a Northwestern Alumni and was hoping you can help me'. Doesn't that sound better than 'I was wondering if you were hiring?' I think you see that there are numerous ways outside of the millions going to facebook, LinkedIn etc.. and it's a very personal approach.