Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
Friends and family looking for work? Fellow geeks without jobs? Are you looking to help out? Okay, we probably all for this, celebs continue with my ever–rambling look into how you can help people were unemployed, when you yourself have a job.
Here's an idea – a Networking Jam.
(Yes, more networking advice. It's easier in chunks)
Introduction:
I have kicked around this idea for ages – writing something about how we progeeks with jobs can help those without. I finally figured I'd do it as a series of blog posts and see how it goes. Yeah, you know me, sometimes I need to just try an idea out and not dither so much.
We've been there before. We know people out of work and we want to help, yet it's frustrating at the same time. There seems to be an infinite amount we can do, yet we're not sure where to start – and what will work.
I've been in your position. I've had many friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and so on have issues with unemployment. So I'm going to be writing up individual things you can try, bite-sized morsels of advice to help your friends and family out in their job search.
"I'm not on the inside."
Have you ever heard that excuse from some sad seeker of employment? Have you ever lowered yourself to employ the excuse yourself? My guess if you've encountered one if not both cases.
It's a common story – and a common excuse. People think they can't succeed because they're not part of the "inside" the elite group, the . . . well whatever elite or group or team of influencers that makes things happen. We fear we're not connected, never going to be connected, and are thus going to fail.
I won't lie – connections are important in career and life. Networking and being connected pays off in far more ways than just a job search. Decrying it however misses the point.
You're not "on the inside"? Then build your own inside. In fact, you're a progeek, you have an entire "inside" just waiting to happen.