I would like to challenge you and hear about what the results of this are.
I would like you to think of three people you have met at sometime in your life.
- This person should be 25-55 years old
- This person should be presently employed, preferably at a midsize to large company
- This person may or may not already work in IT
- Try to avoid anyone realted to education
- Try to pick someone who is not a family member if possible
- The Ideal person here would be someone like a copier salesman. Don't laugh - these people have HUGE numbers of contacts in all sorts of industries. Lots of exposure. Someone who sits behind a desk all day may not have many contacts.
It can be your older sister's boyfriend or a distant Aunt or Uncle if need be. It can even be one of your parent's friends. Most likely though - this person has never talked to you on the phone or it is very rare - I mean why would you talk to your sister's boyfriend on the phone? (These are examples - you will have to come up with the actual people or their affiliation with you on your own)
Before you call write down the exact words you would use in describing a realistic ideal internship. Should be two sentences or so.
Also write down a one sentence description of your qualifications / accomplishments.
Finally print out 6 copies of your resume for them. Be ready to send these either to them after the call or to whoever they know. Worst case- if you suspect they are technically savy, have a PDF copy of your resume ready (Don't send word since formatting shits the bed between versions. I can convert it for you if you don't have full Acrobat)
Call each person on the phone and tell them you need a favor. You would like for them to ask their friends and coworkers if anyone is looking for a (insert Ideal internship desc.) You don't need to tell them you are looking at their company specifically. They will figure that out on their own. Then tell them (insert short desc of qualifications). Even if they cannot think of anything right now, tell them to keep their eyes open for you. Then promise them that you are a very hard worker and eager to get some real world experience while being willing to work for cheap. Most importantly, let them know that you will reflect very positively on them if they should refer you to anyone they know.
Please let me know who you choose (not their names - but how you know them and what they do) and let me know how it goes.
Think Six Degrees of Bacon on this. Someone you vaugely know knows someone who could use a hard working person to run a network this summer. (Maybe pitch it as someone who can help cover vacations etc. during the summer months).
__________________
All truth passes through three stages:
First it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed and
Third, it is accepted as self-evident.
ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)
Last edited by Mondak; 02-04-2004 at 03:26 PM..
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