What do you do when networking efforts aren't getting you far in your job quest? We look at a proactive approach which might just help you to get results.
Question: My networking efforts have fallen flat, so what else can I do to get in the right doors?
I recently came to this country from India. I am working on getting permanent resident status and am ready to start looking for a job. I am an engineer with an MBA from a top Indian school. In India, I was managing an offshore software development centre, but, being technically inclined, I played the role of software architect/technical project manager for several large projects. Most of these were fixed-time projects and resulted in repeat orders.
I am now looking for an opportunity with firms that are thinking of outsourcing their development work. Since I know some of the pitfalls inherent in this business, I feel that I could play the role of technology architect/project manager to ensure that the project meets business and technical requirements.
I was wondering how I could network and meet people in the industry. I have joined Women in Technology International, as well as TechRepublic, and other such forums, but I feel that I need to have more face-to-face meetings with technical/business people.
Answer: Persistence and innovation are needed for success
This column is a bit out of the ordinary because I wrote it after several email exchanges with the woman who submitted the question. She has come to this country to be with her husband; he has been here for three years getting projects done for the company he works for. She said that the first year here went by "in a blur" as she was getting adjusted and making sure her children did, too.
I understand that it's difficult to make contacts and to network, especially these days when so many people are overworked. They have little time to attend the get-togethers and meetings, and meeting the many other people who are also looking for jobs can also be discouraging. The key, I told the member, is to be innovative and persistent.
I suggested that she take a course at a local university or college that has business classes related to what she wants to do.
Since she is able and willing to wait to get a job, I then suggested some other tactics that take a little more time to work.
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