> How common is it to have a peer who can introduce you to a hiring manager?
I haven't gotten a job in the last... six or seven years without an introduction.
> Most of my friends are unemployed or working at Panera Bread.
Only one of my friends - as in, someone I'd meet for a pint - works in my field. Don't sweat that.
But I've got plenty of other developers I keep in touch with to varying degrees.
> Any advice?
Make a list of every person you've worked with in the past, or work with right now. Ask yourself one simple question: if you were sitting in your office and your manager walked in and says "Hey normloman, I just got foobar's resume, and you used to work with them! Are they any good?"
If your answer wouldn't be immediately "hell yeah!", cross their name off the list. Don't hedge, don't equivocate.
Now you've got a list of people that you trust, and if you're a decent worker, odds are most of them feel the same way about you.
The next time you're looking to switch jobs, pull out that list. Send each one of them a quick email/Linkedin/Facebook message/text/whatever that just says "hey, I'm looking to make a change, do you know anyone that's hiring?"
That's pretty much it. And be available for anyone that asks you the same question, because you gotta keep your karma in check ;-)
I haven't gotten a job in the last... six or seven years without an introduction.
> Most of my friends are unemployed or working at Panera Bread.
Only one of my friends - as in, someone I'd meet for a pint - works in my field. Don't sweat that.
But I've got plenty of other developers I keep in touch with to varying degrees.
> Any advice?
Make a list of every person you've worked with in the past, or work with right now. Ask yourself one simple question: if you were sitting in your office and your manager walked in and says "Hey normloman, I just got foobar's resume, and you used to work with them! Are they any good?"
If your answer wouldn't be immediately "hell yeah!", cross their name off the list. Don't hedge, don't equivocate.
Now you've got a list of people that you trust, and if you're a decent worker, odds are most of them feel the same way about you.
The next time you're looking to switch jobs, pull out that list. Send each one of them a quick email/Linkedin/Facebook message/text/whatever that just says "hey, I'm looking to make a change, do you know anyone that's hiring?"
That's pretty much it. And be available for anyone that asks you the same question, because you gotta keep your karma in check ;-)