For my 6000th post, Please allow me to say that job hunting and unemployment really SUCK!

[grantcart]

32. there is nothing worse than being in a stage of permanent evaluation

It is a test of your inner strength that you are still rational at this point. I would have either self medicated or taken a job as a dishwasher at this point.

Here is some general advice that you and others in the same situation may find helpful;

As everyone knows the number one way people get jobs (roughly 35% of all hirings) are through networking, while only about 30% are from direct applications:

Below are some statistics on how Americans find employment:



35% -- Found job through a friend, relative or other associate

30% -- Contacted an employer directly, without answering a classified ad

14% -- Answered a job classified advertisement

08% -- Found job through on-campus recruitment or job placement office

06% -- Employment agency or search firm

05% -- State-run unemployment office

02% -- Other

http://www.resumagic.com/networking.html


A couple of years ago I read an excellent scientific study of how networking actually works and there was an unusual finding. Networking through your first circle of friends and acquantices was not that effective.

What was very effective was the second circle of friends; friends of your friends that you didn't previously know.

The reason for this was surprisingly simple. Your first circle of friends are basically going to give you ideas and contacts that are ones that you already know and that you have already applied to. The second circle of friends starts to take you into completely new areas where you will find completely new contacts.

So the recommendation of this study was to contact your 12 best friends and ask each of them to give you the names of 3 close friends that are outside of your common network of friends. Make an appointment with each of these people and tell them what your doing and you need help finding someone that can use your skills.

Many people find it difficult to make the call. Let's turn the tables. If you got a call from someone who said that they got your name from a good guy that was a common friend and you simply wanted to sit down with them for 15 minutes and get a little bit of advice from, what would you do? You would say sure, and be happy to give some advice. So you go see the guy and just tell him what your doing and if he has any ideas where someone like you might find a position to meet his skills. And if you connect with the guy before you leave you ask for a couple more names.

They did test trials and I can't find the study or the results but with two test groups they found that contacting the second or third circle of friends or acquaintances was like 80% more effective than the first circle of friends.

If this was even a little bit helpful in a small way then great, if not just know that I really feal for you.

Peace.