ClearRock

BOSTON ‑ June 12, 2007 ‑ College and high school graduates of the class of 2007 launching job searches can use technology they both like and are comfortable with ‑ instant messaging and text messaging ‑ to build their career networks, according to ClearRock, an outplacement and executive coaching firm headquartered in Boston.

College and high school graduates who already have their friends, classmates, and family in their instant and text messaging contacts can enlist each others' help in building their job-search networks.

Networking with friends and other people who can help in your search is the most effective way to find employment, accounting for more than 70 percent of successful job searches, according to ClearRock.  "Some grads may be uncomfortable with making networking contacts, or don't feel they know enough people with whom to build a network," said Annie Stevens, managing partner with ClearRock.

"A networking contact is someone you know who can help you, or who knows someone else who can," said Greg Gostanian, managing partner with ClearRock.  "Instant and text messaging contacts can aid in finding additional people."

IM and texting exchanges can also assist in identifying often-overlooked networking contacts.  "They include people such as doctors, dentists, clergy, hair stylists, mechanics, and others who may not initially come to mind when building a job-search network," said Stevens.

"Although it's acceptable to text your personal contacts to aid in building a job-search network, it's not advisable to use text messaging when asking for a networking meeting or job interview with someone you don't know well," according to Stevens.

"Even if you obtain someone's text address, do not make first contact this way.  Send an e-mail or use the phone," said Stevens.  "Unsolicited text messages from an unknown person may be unwelcome, and this wouldn't be a good way to start off a networking relationship with someone you want to help you find a job.  Use instant and text messaging primarily to get in touch with your contacts to build your career network further."

Text and instant messaging to expand your job-search network shouldn't only be limited to just recent high school and college grads.  "Job-hunting is a time-consuming process that can be very frustrating.  People should use technologies they like to make a job-search less of an effort, and more like social networking," said Gostanian.

"Text and instant messages also are more likely to get a quicker response than e-mails even from your closest contacts," added Stevens.  "These methods are possible ways to get around all of the e-mail clutter in people's e-mail in-boxes today.  Many of your text and IM contacts are probably confronted by e-mail clutter, too, so an instant or text message may be answered faster than an e-mail."