When I was a young adult, my parents were furious because I could not get a job. Eventually, I did work for many years.

I was in my early 30′s before I realized just how thoroughly my mother had always dominated me, keeping me from having relationships other than her, criticizing every word I ever said in public.

I used to be terrified to even ask for something in public. I had no social skills. I thought being good would get me a job.

He did some computer work part time, but finally got one of his customers to hire him full time. It wasn’t the best situation, but it worked.

Now he’s with another company, doing much better financially, and working on other projects that look promising. How? I did a little social networking of my own and managed to brag about him to the right people. And sure, he makes more money that I will ever, but he has been sure to give me a lot of credit for his success on numerous occasions.

In addition to networking through friends and family, I highly recommend the book “Don’t Send a Resume”. And in general, just work on being noticed by those in your field. Thanks to the internet, it’s getting easier and easier to court a company. You may be amazed how easy it can be to network with people at various companies — especially if you give it some time before popping the big question.

Now, I am moving out of education to business. So, what do I do?? I call the HR department and ask to speak with someone about something having to do with hiring I find online. For example, one particular company I called has a recent MBA grad program. When I asked to speak with someone about it, they connected me to the hiring manager!! I left a message. She called back. We talked for 20 minutes. She gave me her personal email and asked me to send her my resume and CL directly.

The point is – BE BOLD!!! Approach people!! Put yourself out on a limb!! What is the worst thing that can happen to you?? The more guts you have, the more breaks you’ll get.

And one more thing. . .contacting via email is worthless. Use the phone!!! Remember, even if it goes nowhere, they still have heard your voice and know your name. That might be enough to separate your resume from all the others.

I really felt like I aced my latest job interview. I was called about a job thru a ex co-worker with whom I got along with quite well. The interviewer asked me about a certain skill and I replied (with a big smile) that there were parts of my job that were very mundane but that aspect was JUST PLAIN FUN. He grinned back. Being positive and engaging pays off. I received an e-mail that the second interview will be in a couple of days.

My next job is looking to be the same way – a guy I impressed early on wants to bring me to his current company, and no, I don’t have a degree, and yes, I try to reciprocate.

Secondly, you ought to be applying for jobs where you already act like you belong. Want to be a manager but have no experience? Read up on it and practice it at non-profits. Want to become a programmer? Learn how to program on your own and bring samples in to show how you’d approach things. In all cases, no matter what job you are looking for, you need to know the theory behind why you are doing something, not just the surface level. Be a professional about your work – this is a career, so try and make sure you know your skills.

If you do both of those, landing a job is easy. Basically, the job will find you, more than likely.

First you need to explain how to make contacts. And, in my humble opinion, you do that by just going out and DOING whatever it is you want to do. Want to be a designer? Go design something. Want to write grants? Go write a grant for free. Get to know people in the field. That’s what this article needed to be about…

Also, your local unemployment office will have job listings, job testing, job training, etc. and it is available to anyone in most cases. I got a job through them when I moved after college. I went in every single day and did every single thing they asked me to do. I found a job being an office person and they wanted “radio experience.” Well, I had sort of used a radio thingie when I was at Space Camp many MANY years ago and I got an interview.

You all will love this. I got the job. Not because I had “radio experience” but because I ANNOYED the owner of the company! It was a tow truck company and I was to be the dispatcher. He hired me because I was annoying and if I was annoying, I was sure to get things done, he said, and not take any crap from the tow truck drivers.

So my advice to people is to always be your true self when you go to an interview.

Finding what you are passionate about will naturally lead to meeting others who will see your passion, and eventually to a job.

This will not happen overnight.

But until you find it you won’t be happy in any job you pursue.

It has to be something that gives you meaning and something that “just feels right”.

You’ll know you’ve found it when you find yourself getting excited about it and spending lots of time, voluntarily, on it.

It’s also very important to have a professional presence on the web. Show samples of you best work on your website. Including a URL in your resume is a great way to increase the number of call backs you’ll receive.

This is particularly important for designers, but I get the impression that portfolios are increasingly important in other fields as well. If your a teacher, for example, having an online portfolio will really separate you from the pack.

1-a) if going right for that is too much to face, find something closer to that than your current job is

2) put yourself in their shoes — what do they need? what problems do they face day to day? how can you solve those problems?

3) spend any contact with the potential employer (phone, email, interview) talking about THEM. ask questions, offer suggestions, if you must talk about you, only do it in very specific terms about what you could do to help them.

the bottom line is that nobody hires because you’re good and kind and skilled and deserving and really need a job. even if they did, they would not necessarily be doing you a favor. people hire because they NEED HELP. they have a problem that needs solved, end of story, ANY job.

Finally, some jobs require a degree. Period. I work for a large architecture firm and so many people ask me if I can get them a job. Do you have a degree? I ask. No. Even the interns here have a degree, you can’t replace education in some fields, and especially in some sought-after firms. Ironically, I’m self taught (web development). I built things and volunteered and then I got a job based on my portfolio.

For me, just “getting out there and meeting people” is difficult: I’m not a schmoozer. I can’t go into a large room of people and just be “on” and talk to people, with whom I have no context for speaking with. So, I’ve worked best in the situations above – more one-on-one where there is a specific context for interaction.

Oh, and also, get some feedback on your resume/ coverletter and your interviewing skills. I know where I work now, if someone has any spelling or grammatical errors that I can notice (and I’m not an editor), I usually don’t give them an interview. Call it cold-hearted, but that is one easy way to cull a huge pile of applications. Interviewing skills are good to have feedback on as well, as sometimes you may be doing something that you don’t know you are doing (shifting eyes, fidgeting, not making eye-contact) that may make you seem out of place.

In addition to the networking, it provides you another outlet for finding employers (mention that you’re looking for work on your about page) and gives employers a sample of your work.

That’s how I found my current freelance job that might go full-time soon.

But developing a social network that will help you find a job is NOT THAT HARD.

Most big cities have lots of business groups that meet monthly — go to your local Chamber of Commerce, see if there’s a 9-5 chapter, see if there’s a chapter of the American Association of Whateveritisthatyou’reointerestedindoing. Call (phone, not email) the contacts listed on the web site and ask if they need volunteers to check people in or help setup or cleanup after the meeting.

Be friendly and helpful and when you chat with people, tell them you’re new in the area and you’re looking for a job.

I’ve gotten 2 interviews — both of which led to jobs — just from showing up at trade association meetings that were interesting to me, chatting with people, and telling them I was looking for work.

The point is, yes, its partially about knowing people, but you don’t have to know them now, ad they don’t have to be friends. Get your name out in the field you want to be in, attend events where people in that position would be at. That is how you get to know people. If two people are identical is skill and character, I guarantee the hiring manager will pick the one who’s name they have seen before (unless its attached to “robs a bank” or something hehe)

Another option – join a local arts patron club – ie – the “friends of x museum” – there are cheaper clubs for those who have recently graduated – these can be a great intro into the business community.

good luck!

I think you really need to highlight all the things in your employment and education history that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and downplay all the non-relevant, including job titles if necessary.

In my line of work, most people get their jobs through agencies, but that might still leave you in a catch-22 position as agencies find it easier to place people with experience.

TEMP AGENCIES can help you get a “foot in the door” job. If you test well on Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc. plus type quickly, you can get a job and work your way up. You can practice those skills and when you’re ready, head over to the temp agency. You have to be proactive with them, though. Make them KNOW you want a job.

PERSERVERANCE. A couple years back I was laid off and applied to around 100 jobs and didn’t get a single one. That’s just life sometimes. When I finally did get a job, I was laid off again after 6 months. Then I got my current job, which I really like. It’s in an industry I didn’t even know existed and it’s what I wanted to do but didn’t even know it.