This is the first in a series called “When I Was a Suck-Up”, articles about what I did to make myself shine at all the brand name jobs I’ve had. The short list: I worked at Saturn, MGM Mirage, the IMF, Starbucks… sometimes through temp agencies. I always got offered a job though. :)

My friends who still work day jobs always want me to do their resume, because I’m a writer, and I work with computers, so somehow that automatically translates to me spiffing up their resume.

Not that I’m bad at this. I’m excellent at making the truth look desirable to an employer, and I worked in human resources in the tech sector in Washington DC for a spell, giving me unusual insight into what employers want and how they search Monster or job databases.

But enough about me. All you need to know is that my advice is somewhat qualified.

This article is about you. Maybe you’re sick of your job. Maybe you want to change careers. Perhaps you’re just a nomad, like I was. Or you’re gunning for a big promotion.

If you can get past that first sort list, an impressive letter of recommendation, introduction or reference from a person of influence can get you in doors that are invisible to the naked eye. It’s quite true that it’s who you know, as much as (and sadly, sometimes, more than) what you know.

So how do you

1. Locate influential people.
2. Get them to write you letters of recommendation/introduction/be references.
3. Look cool doing it?

You’re on you’re own for number three, but I’ll give you tips on numbers one and two today.

Okay, first, let’s locate the spheres of influence in your life.

Most people think influential, and they think of the people they work with directly. However, just because you’re an English major doesn’t mean having the Chair of the Science department as a reference isn’t impressive as hell.

So start making lists of all the people you have helped at your job/school. And if you can’t think of any? You need to start volunteering to help, ASAP. My advice would be to help with things you’re actually interested in though, to give you common ground for future conversations.

The same goes if you work in, say, IT on the Help Desk. I hear a lot that the reason people are changing jobs in the first place is that they think their boss hates them, or they’re a bad fit in the company. But usually? Hateration doesn’t extend beyond the department you’re in.

If you’re in IT, chances are there is someone on the executive staff who loves you. What about the time you saved the VP’s butt right before a presentation? How about that secretary with the souped-up, fancy sounding title? There’s colleagues, executive assistants - make a list of all the people who like you.

Should that still come up short, you can list your friends, and see who They know who could help you. Even if you’re not looking for a way out of your present employment, form relationships now, before you need a boost.

Let’s say you’ve figured out everyone you know, and everyone who you know, knows, in addition to people you want to know.

It’s time to look at people you don’t know and aren’t yet connected to. It might be hard to strike up a conversation to the vice president of sales when you’re brand new to inside sales. But I bet it’s less scary to talk to the guy who heads up the publishing department, the mail room, etc.

Go find out what group activities, formal or informal, that people in the company, outside your department are interested in, and get yourself invited. Go to the company gym at lunch for a light workout, see who’s there. You have kids? Who else has kids?

That’s my first piece of advice - connect, connect, connect.

Once you’re hooked into the network, how do you get their name and digits on your resume? That’ll be my next article.

[tags]job, job advice, employment, find a job, job tips, reference, references, work reference, get references[/tags]