What’s the difference between Job Hunting and Internet Surfing?
Posted on Tue, Jun 08, 2010
A Hunter's Survival Guide - Part 1
If you are out looking for work, you know you aren't alone. There are hundreds of OD Practitioners and Consultants looking for work in the Greater Boston Area. So, are you still surfing the internet looking for work, or are you really on the hunt? Here are a few success stories from my own experience, as well as additional suggestions from others in Organization Development. I'll add additional stories as we go through the summer, so check back and update us as you try things out.
Volunteer with your local professional association, like MassBayODLG!
Have you been to a number of networking events but not finding yourself making meaningful connections? Consider signing up to volunteer with a local professional association like MassBayODLG where you can create some deeper relationships and really get to know the other professionals active in your community. It can help with references or just getting to know other people in the community down the road. You are volunteering in your own field - an area where you are likely already passionate.
And you have the added opportunity to pick up new skills while working with a professional group. Maybe you have some experience redesigning evaluation materials. Or, you could become an expert at social media marketing. Perhaps you really like organizing events and you don't often get the chance to put those skills to use. Or maybe you have always wanted to learn how to redesign a website. All professional associations need help, and you could be just the person they have been looking for. Think of this as the opportunity to finally get to pick the projects you get to work on!
You may even get a mentor out of your volunteering experience. I know a number of people who have developed lifelong professional relationships from a volunteer experience. Consider that this might be a great chance to interact with someone who you wouldn't normally meet at a networking event based on their schedule or location.
Really, you never know until you try. So give it a shot today!
About the author: Kristine Dunn is part of the MassBayODLG