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Career advice, interview advice, job search advice, cv advice, resume advice, cover letter adviceLatest career advice: Nursing job guide |
The Six Degrees of SeparationThursday 16th September 2004 London Dear Friend, In this article, I will show you how a well-known sociological theory can help turbocharge your job search!! Have you heard of the 'Six Degrees of Separation'? And do you know how you could use it to assist you in your job search? The Six Degrees of Separation is a fascinating, and in some ways mind-boggling, theory that everyone in the world is connected to any other person through at most six interactions. In other words, one of my friends might have been to school with someone who babysits for the person who is the boss of someone who one of your friends went to school with. Complicated? Lets break it down: I know... ...my friend who knows... ...the babysitter who knows... ...the boss who knows... ...your friend's schoolmate who knows... ...your friend who knows... YOU!! Small world isn't it?!?! Actually, in 1967 a psychologist called Stanley Milgram asked 96 people randomly distributed around the United States to send a postcard to someone they knew, who they hoped would be able to send it on with the eventual aim of it reaching a designated 'target' person in Boston. Milgram found that the postcards which arrived in Boston went through, on average, six people. Further internet-based experiments have also been conducted, confirming that people are indeed connected by around six links in the chain. So (I hear you ask) how does this help me with my job search? Well, one of the frequent questions I get asked is "How can I find out about XYZ company when I don't know anyone who works there?", or "I never seem to find out about those unadvertised vacancies until they've already been filled!" Now, think about how many people really know that you are looking for a job at XYZ company. A handful perhaps. They may know someone who works there, in which case you're lucky. But what if they don't? Instead, think about asking far more people whether they know anyone working at XYZ. Perhaps 20 or more. And make sure you ask them not only if they know someone who works at XYZ, but also whether they know anyone who knows someone at XYZ!! If they each speak to 20 people, you have instantly passed your message out to 400 people!! And remember, these people are only one step away from your original acquaintances - in other words, they are not too distant not to want to help you!! You can use a similar technique when writing letters to your contacts asking them for help in your job search. Consider adding the following paragraph to the bottom of your cover letter: "I would be very grateful for any support or advice you could offer me in my plans to further my career in the [XYZ] industry, and also (if you think it appropriate) if you could provide me with details of other people who may be able to help me and whom I could contact." Wishing you success in your dream career! Jonathan Lewis Careerfriend www.careerfriend.com |