A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market (Katharine Hansen)

Genre: Nonfiction
Year Published: 2000

I have a good friend who has always managed to be that well-placed person, to know all the people in all the upper echelons of whatever organization you could think of. She's never been shy about suggesting to near-strangers that they exchange info; she'll be one of those people, I think, who ends up with an overflowing Rolodex, who can always pick up a phone and find out what's up.

I am decidedly not one of those people, but in my search for a satisfying, long-term job since college (still haven't gotten there yet), I've quickly learned how much personal relationships can grease the wheels in a job application process. In short: a blind C.V. and cover letter drop is about as helpful as standing at the bottom of a canyon and shouting up. Sometimes someone wanders by and you get lucky. Most times, not so much.

A Foot in the Door is an easy, practical guide both to creating your personal network and utilizing it when the time comes. It's simplistic to roll out the old adage, "It's not what you know; it's who you know," but there's more truth in that than most people would like to admit.

This book will give the average reader a lot of ideas about expanding their own network -- creative ones that may not have occurred to them -- and sample business letters and questions for informational interviews. It isn't full of annoying exercises or overblown testimonials. It's helpful without being overbearing. This should probably be required reading for anyone who thinks they may ever be on the lookout for a new job, i.e. nearly everyone.

Meanwhile, my only way of imitating my oh-so-connected friend is to learn these techniques by rote. I'll let you all know if they pay off in the long term.

Recommended? Yes!