I don't have a job search network. How do I create one? (apply, temporary)

[Midwest Maven]

I can't go to the local Work Force center in my city right now because I'm in my last semester of graduate school, and am student teaching Monday through Friday at a public school. My biggest fear (like most college graduates who don't have a financial nest egg of support to fall back on) is that I have to quickly try to create a job search support network, because I don't have one right now.

My social life is nil to the point where my sister and a couple of long distance friends are all that I have.

I have enough of my spring refund to cover my rent and very meager living expenses until July, but then I'm out of luck. My student teaching ends May 1st.

So what should be my plan of action for that first week of May? I've already tried the career counseling center at my university but it's just one woman who manages the job database there and offers resume help. That's how small the career center is. She was very helpful to me a few months ago when I needed to revamp my resume for an education job that I applied for (but didn't get obviously).

So, aside from my university's career counseling center and my city's local Work Force Center, what other avenues of job search support should I reach out for? I live in Minnesota. Any advice is appreciated because I'm in my early 40s, so I don't have mom and dad to fall back on for any financial support.

[Kibbiekat]

You could join linked in and link with people you know from all areas of your life, and with people you don't know but who work in your field. Don't wait until May. Start your job search now.

[Midwest Maven]

How does that work - Linked In - if I never see the people I link up with online? How can they help me find a job if they don't make any effort to stay in touch with me? Why would they want to help me find a job if they don't make any effort to socialize with me in person?

Do I have any other options that are more practical? I appreciate the Linked In suggestion, really. But as I said in my OP, I have no social life at all and lost touch with tons of people. I don't want to contact those people online and beg them to help me find a job, especially if they don't want to be friends with me in real life. That doesn't make sense.

[caradvice]

seek temporary agencies, headhunters, alumni networks, professional association meetings, former colleagues, neighbors, friends of friends, social network site, meetup groups, classmates with connections, professor with connections, job fairs, apply to programs targeted to recent grads (management trainee programs, ...), apply and network like crazy after school and weekends there is no reason to wait until may. also miss a class if you have to to go to your local workforce to gain resources available to you. also linkedin can be used to gain recruiter info at target companies plus it has a job search feature. good luck

[caradvice]

Originally Posted by Midwest Maven

How does that work - Linked In - if I never see the people I link up with online? How can they help me find a job if they don't make any effort to stay in touch with me? Why would they want to help me find a job if they don't make any effort to socialize with me in person?

Do I have any other options that are more practical? I appreciate the Linked In suggestion, really. But as I said in my OP, I have no social life at all and lost touch with tons of people. I don't want to contact those people online and beg them to help me find a job, especially if they don't want to be friends with me in real life. That doesn't make sense.

you have to change your perspective and attitude a bit here. no one said beg. also some people may reach out to you once you create a detailed profile. you may not even have to contact them first. plus linkedin has its on job search section. plus its a good reason to find recruiters at target firms that you could target for potential opportunities.

[move4ward]

Forget about the network, learn to job hunt at some classes, meetups, charities, and ministries outside the university.

No master's, no bachelor's, no network, no problem. I got a job and asked for 2 weeks to start, because I wanted a break between the layoff and the next job. It was all done with help from classes and total strangers.

[handle54321]

Originally Posted by move4ward

Forget about the network, learn to job hunt at some classes, meetups, charities, and ministries outside the university.

No master's, no bachelor's, no network, no problem. I got a job and asked for 2 weeks to start, because I wanted a break between the layoff and the next job. It was all done with help from classes and total strangers.

Good advice, move4ward.

But again, linkedin.com is the biggest professional network out there. Search for names of people that you know or even try to cold email them, especially recruiters.

[Midwest Maven]

Well I'm not going to use Linked In. I need to job network the old fashioned face to face way. I already stated clearly that I don't want to bug people on some website to help me find a job, or hire me for a job.

Also, I can't just take a day off from student teaching. Does no one even bother to READ my posts?!?!?!?!

[altlover85]

I would look at www.meetup.com and see if they have any networking events in your area. I joined for social reasons, but I do know in my area, Boston, there were networking groups. I assume it would be the same where you are, but you'd have to look it up.

I would also try and network at the school you are at currently. It also might be worth it to look at some volunteer opportunities, just so that you can expand your network that way.

[Midwest Maven]

Thanks altlover85 I'll look into a Meetup job network group and as the school I'm student teaching at, for info on volunteering there. Two good places to start anyway. I don't want to network online. I need to do it face to face or at least over the phone.