Using Chief Delphi as a Networking Tool

[Wetzel]

Networking is a thing that creeps slowly as you work well, but falls apart fast when you do poorly. My involvement in FIRST led eventually to me working at a regional level, and getting introductions to people in business from our regional director. Getting in the door is the hardest part of finding a job, at least in my experience, and those introductions created some amazing opportunities. It is great to have some choices.

That said, having moved to London from Virginia, there is a limit to how useful those introductions are. Stick me in the pile of "upcoming college grad who is looking for his first job and hasn't had any luck with the standard job search process"

Wetzel
Still looking.

[RoboMom]

Any news on BeyondFIRST.org which is featured on the FIRST website?
http://www.usfirst.org/who/content.aspx?id=972

[ManicMechanic]

When I was a senior, an offer I had was withdrawn about 2 weeks before graduation. I quickly talked to some of my professors about possible work and got a job as a 1/2 technician, 1/2 time research assistant doing grad student-type work. It paid about 1/2 of what industry paid, but it was a fabulous lower-pressure learning experience; in a tight economy, I was better off than my unemployed classmates.

Being willing to work for less money opens up more options and makes easier to "earn your keep."

In the long run, connections come indirectly from pouring yourself into what you love to do and do well, and they can't be generated overnight when you suddenly need them. While there's nothing wrong with putting the word out when you're looking for a job and hoping that what you have to offer connects to the right need, nobody likes being used by a job seeker who hasn't demonstrated real ability and effort.

[synth3tk]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Any news on BeyondFIRST.org which is featured on the FIRST website?
http://www.usfirst.org/who/content.aspx?id=972

It could be a part of the DNS issues that recently started popping up, but it appears the site is down, though still partially pingable.
Are there any behind-the-scenes people on that project who can fill us in?