Six Degrees of Separation- Land A Job Through Volunteering- AdvancingWomen.com.

According to Judith Luther-Wilder, CEO of Women Incorporated, a company she founded, “Everyone, including the pet pig, has written a book about networking. Twenty rules do not work. Each community is different… At its best, networking is exploring personal interests.”

Luther-Wilder puts a great deal of emphasis on connecting between volunteering for an organization and networking. When you volunteer for an organization, you will instantly have something in common with the others in it, and that will be an initial bond offering a comfort zone to get to know them better. If contemplating a career change, volunteering offers the individual the opportunity to learn and be appreciated, at the same time while providing the environment to decide if this is really the change they want to make. An oriental studies major, Luther-Wilder credits volunteering as starting point for every amazing job she has had.

Opportunities exist in volunteering that may not be available in the traditional corporate environment. She was speaking, as a volunteer, about war crimes to an audience that included Peter Sellars, the director of the Los Angeles Opera. Impressed with her abilities, Sellars proceeded to offer her the job as executive director of the LA Festival. This was a position that neither her academic training nor prior job history would not necessarily have “qualified” her to obtain through traditional channels.

Lee Bright, President of Bright Marketing International and Director of Marketing for The Food Show, teaches a seminar entitled, “Building a Relationship in Five Minutes or Less.” Bright has an amazing ability to draw out people, and she truly listens to what they are saying. One of the keys to networking Bright says is, “the ability to make a person feel they are the only people in the world. What people remember about you is how interested you were in them.” Everyone likes to talk about themselves, especially their favorite things whether it is their business, children, issues, or hobbies.

“If you are genuinely interested in someone, it will show,” a belief Bright and Luther-Wilder share. “People do not like to be worked,” contends Luther-Wilder. “Networking is not a volume business. When there is a connection it is because of a commonality of interests.” Reciprocity is another element that needs to be emphasized. If someone asks for your help and it is something you can do, do it.

She tells the story of a friend who sold real estate, who started out volunteering for local political candidates and non-profit agencies dealing with women’s issues. She discovered she loved the advocacy and fundraising. Through the contacts she made in these two areas, she was able to leave real estate for a career in the non-profit world as a development consultant

How Volunteering Can Help You Land Your Next Job,

In this post, author, Rebecca Metschke, notes “You can use volunteering as a means to help ( explore you next career opportunity). Rest assured: volunteering will not eat up all your time (which means you’ll still be free to pursue other avenues which can help you to with your search concurrently) – depending on the organization, you may find ample opportunities to help in the evenings or on weekends.

Choose the organization wisely. Keep in mind where you want to go and what you want to accomplish with your career. Consider how the job will help you sharpen your skills, or provide you the opportunity to learn new ones. Once you’re there, see if you can get on a planning committee or figure out some other means to broaden your exposure within the group and build your network. Never underestimate the fantastic connections you can make as a result of your volunteer work.

If you’re already volunteering, look at your organization and your job from a different perspective. Suppose you’ve been donating your time at your church – or at the art museum – or at your local school. Now that you’ve been laid off, think about that volunteer role and how it relates to your career. How can it help you with your job search? What new skills might you be able to learn? Have you actively networked with people there? If you’re looking for work, have you let these people know about it?

Your volunteer experience may also lead to a full time position with the organization to which you’re donating your time. When a position opens up, a volunteer can be the perfect fit. You’re a known commodity. You’re familiar with the project. You understand the nature of the foundation or non-profit or school or campaign (fill in the blank) from the inside. You get the idea – they’ve already taken you for a “test drive” and they like what they see.

Volunteering can be a win-win. It gets you out of the house, you’re making a contribution – and you just may find your next “day” job in the process”

Synchronicity, six degrees of separation, networking; it is all about people connecting and remembering that perfect source can come from anywhere.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Six Degrees of Separation Is Now Three
• Six Degrees Of Separation Already Cut To Three? Not Really…
• Six degrees of separation theory true
• More on hyperconnectivity and six – or three – degrees of separation
• NpTech Roundup: Grasshoppers and Ants – Social Fundraising Off Season
• Email links prove six degrees of separation