Programming Interviews Exposed: Secrets to Landing Your Next Job, Second Edition

2.1. Finding and Contacting Companies

The first step in getting a job is finding and making contact with companies you're interested in working for. Although networking through a contact with a company provides the highest probability of success, there are a number of other possibilities, including working with a headhunter or contacting the company directly.

2.1.1. Networking

Networking (the social kind) is the best way to find jobs. Tell all your friends about what kind of job you're looking for. Even if they don't work for the kinds of companies that might hire you, they probably know people who do. Coming from "Susan's friend" or "Bill's neighbor," your résumé is sure to receive more careful consideration than the hundreds of anonymous résumés that come flooding in from strangers. Companies often reward employees for successful referrals, so don't think there's nothing in it for them. Social networking sites such as LinkedIn are another way to find additional contacts, both directly and indirectly.

Once you have a contact at a company, it's up to you to make the most of it. If the contact is not a close friend, it's tempting to call him or her and say, "Hi, I'd like to speak with you about getting a job." Presumably, your contact already knows that this is the ultimate reason why you're calling, so cutting to the chase may seem reasonable. This approach, though, is tactless and likely to be unsuccessful. Your contact may find it arrogant or presumptive that you would assume ...