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Winter 2006 Departments
Exchange
Prerequisite
Extended Family
Foundation News
Alumni Association News
Zip 01003
Books Received
Alumni Photos
Features
Why You Should Love Polymers
Where There's Spark
Falling for Shelburne Falls
Where Are They Now?
Lessons in the Sand
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Alumni Association News
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Social Networking:
New Ways to Make Connections and Find Jobs
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Sara Coady ’02 is senior recruiter for Keane, Inc., a Boston-based business and IT services firm that delivers strategy consulting, application, and business process services to clients globally. |
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HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR last job? Was it through the newspaper, a job board, or a friend? Four out of five people or better would say that they found their current job through a professional contact, friend, or peer. In today’s competitive job market we rely on insider information and connections to identify the best jobs and to make the best match.
On the flip side, employers trust the opinions of their most successful employees and value their recommendations for new hires. If you are able to make a connection within a company that you want to work for, you are far more likely to be considered for jobs within that organization. Think about it… you’ll have people talking about you, rather than being one of the hundreds of applications in a company database or received through job boards.
There are a number of forums for networking in today’s job market. Job fairs, networking groups, and professional organizations and clubs are one way, but there is a faster, more convenient way to network. Thanks to the Internet, we now have easy access to professionals and organizations that can assist us in identifying the best job and the best match. Social Networking has silently been building steam over the last three years with the introduction of sites like linkedin.com, ryze.com, and even friendster.com, among many others.
These web sites leverage the “six degrees of separation” theory to connect professionals. Individuals subscribe, they invite their friends to subscribe, and the connections and networks grow. You can then be introduced to people in your network, depending on how many degrees away they are from you. The great thing about tools like this is that you can network with professionals in your field. Your connections within your profession and industry will grow, allowing you to connect with potential employers and like-minded people.
Tools like social networking job sites are the vehicle to make connections and get introduced to professionals and organizations. It is still up to you to make an impression and get the job! For access to more career services and opportunities to network with UMass alumni, contact the UMass Alumni Association at www.UMassAlumni.com. |
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A Volunteer's View
Discover the Alumni Association
Lights, Camera, Action!
Alumni Active Throughout Nation
Memories of UMass Amherst Span 58 Years
From Milk Cans to Golf Clubs
Social Networking:
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