Network to get work

You may have heard that networking is one of the best ways to find out about job opportunities.  The dictionary and thesaurus website http://www.merriam-webster.com defines networking as “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business” (retrieved February 3, 2012, from  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/networking).  In other words, you can meet and keep communicating with people, called connections, in order to find work opportunities.  You never know who can tell you about a great opening.

Make connections with people and tell them you are looking for a job.  Hand them business cards with your name, phone number, and email address on them.  Send them a friendly email now and then.

Who are your connections?

Short answer:  anyone.  (Actually, you probably don’t need to bother with people who hate you, but I hope there are none of those.)  Network with your faculty, fellow students (both in your program and in others at IHE), friends, current and former co-workers, relatives, people you meet at your externships, neighbors, your own doctors and their co-workers, and of course, IHE’s Career Services Department.  Helping you find work is their job, and they're happy to do it.  Look for openings and other news on their Facebook page (search for IHE CSD on www.facebook.com) and advice on their blog (http://deborah-httpwwwcnncom2011living0105.blogspot.com/).    

How can you find connections?

It always helps to be outgoing, friendly, and self-confident.  The best networkers start conversations with strangers and hand them business cards.  Make cards even if you do not have a job right now.  You meet potential connections every time you go to a doctor or dentist’s appointment.  While you are looking for a job, consider doing volunteer work alongside other people in your field.  You are bound to meet contacts there as well as get great experience.

Networking online

Do you have a Facebook account?  If so, you can post about how you are looking for a great career.  Remember, though, that people can see your Facebook page, so be careful about what you type and which pictures you post.  Besides the IHE CSD Facebook page, you can find more pages about medical assisting and other subjects of programs taught at IHE.  Why not see if you can make "friends" with the other people on these pages?  (Here's a secret:  I learned about the opening for a head librarian at IHE through a Facebook page called I need a Library job--and the rest is history!  Do you think there might be similar job hunting pages in your field?  Find out by signing into Facebook and using the search bar that appears on top of the page.)

Another website designed especially for networking is LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/).  If you sign up, you can create and post a résumé.  As on Facebook, you can create a profile and add “connections” (instead of “friends”).  You can start by adding your friendly neighborhood IHE librarian.  Look for your current employers and co-workers to connect with and ask them for recommendations.  Search for job openings and organizations to join.  For example, you can see from my Linkedin page that I belong to several groups such as the American Library Association, Instruction in Academic Libraries, and Rutgers SCI&SCILS Alumni.  You can look for groups to join, too.  From the LinkedIn's home page, use the search box to find groups for people in your field or with similar interests.  See which groups you can join. 

Networking on line

Look for announcements about job fairs.  While on line to speak with representatives from hospitals, officers, and companies, strike conversation with other people looking for a job.  Even your fellow job seekers might be able to help you find employment.

Further reading

Reid Hoffman, the executive chairperson at LinkedIn, has some interesting thoughts about networking; read them at http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/24/reid-hoffman-linkedin-startup-you/. 

LinkedIn and Facebook are not the only networking websites.  For a long list of these sites, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_sites.  Look for sites that you might find interesting.

IHE Library has a book on networking that can give you some good ideas:  One Phone Call Away:  Secrets of a Master Networker by Jeff W. Meshel, with Doug Garr (ISBN 1591840902, call number HM741 .M47 2005).  For the publisher’s summary of this book, visit http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0720/2005050954-d.html.

 As always, your IHE librarian is happy to help you with any of these things.