Use the Web to Build Your Network
by Jane Hyun
As a job hunter in a challenging employment market, you should use multiple resources to obtain information about your target job. In addition to answering ads and using recruiters in your search, aim to conduct an intensive networking campaign that includes connecting with as many associations, trade and industry groups, alumni associations and ethnic organisations as possible. It is not sufficient to network with just the people you already know. You must branch out and meet others in the industry who have valuable insights for you and your future career.
But if you also identify yourself as Asian, why not take advantage of some of the trade organisations out there specific to you? You shouldn't isolate yourself by networking only with other Asian professionals; you should always be seeking fellowship and community outside these Asian professional groups. In fact, you can start right here with our message boards. However, knowing your Asian counterparts and joining affinity groups in your industry are important for increasing your network and expanding your reach.
"It isn't as if I don't get along with Caucasians, Hispanics, or black people," says Ken Lee (not his real name), an Asian who works in advertising. "It's about instantly relating, knowing where the other person has been, that just makes things easier. It's the unspoken comfort you feel. Three of my closest buddies just happen to be Asian, and it wasn't a conscious effort on my part to find them. It was just a natural fit."
How and When to Reach Out
Even if you're not looking for a job, you should always be looking to build and maintain your network. Reaching out to associations like those below will keep you connected and networked. You do not need to be in active job search mode to initiate an interest in an association. Moreover, if you feel more comfortable dealing with other Asian professionals, these organisations will give you a sense of community, and you will meet others who have similar interests and aspirations. Even if that's not the case, you will meet others like yourself, and that's always a perk for your personal enrichment.
To look for a job: If you're actively pursuing a job in a new industry, associations like these are invaluable. You should use all the resources you have and any new ones you find. Talk to people in the industry to get insiders' perspectives on your background. Join the subcommittee of an industry association and become involved. Get out there and become more visible. Use the buddy system: Go with others and create networking circles, and then visit and revisit those circles.
Select Asian Organisations
There are numerous Asian organisations to explore, but to give you a taste, take a look at:
Asian Business
http://www.bl.uk/collections/business/asianbusiness.html
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