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Here's how:
a) Make a list of 50 people you know and ask each one if they know someone who works (or has worked) at that employer.
b) Attend job fairs to meet face-to-face with employers and other professionals.
c) Create a free profile and become active on LinkedIn.com or Facebook.com, which boast a combined 60 million users. Surely you can find someone who knows someone to make that connection.
d) Create a free Twitter.com account and "follow" friends and post requests for help. (You can follow me at Twitter.com/ToryJohnson where I post job leads and where fellow followers can help with contacts.
e) Join an association in your field and network with like-minded peers.
f) Connect with your high school and college alumni groups. Old pals could be new connectors.
g) Talk to your unlikely network. For example, look at the class list of the parents of your kids' friends. Anytime my kids hear about a friend's mom or dad who's lost a job, they tell them to call me. Even though we don't know each other, we have a common connection that can sometimes lead to a contact.
9) Follow up with a call or e-mail to the recruiter responsible for filling the position. Never say, "Did you get my resume?" Instead be ready to reiterate your strong qualifications and interest in the role. You'll have just a brief moment to sell yourself, so rehearse before making the call or sending the e-mail. To reach the right person, cold-call the company and ask an operator to put you through. If that doesn't work, Google the term "recruiter" or "HR director" along with the name of your employer of choice. The results may reveal the name you're trying to find.
10) Stay at the top of their mind. Every recruiter is different, which makes this a challenge. Some say you're welcome to follow up weekly. Others say every other week is enough. And then there are some who'll tell you to never call. Find the right balance so you're politely persistent without crossing over to a pest.
Click here for a complete list of the more than 70 employers that are hiring at the GMA Job Fair and Career Camp. Many of them are hiring nationally now.
Tory Johnson is the Workplace Contributor on "Good Morning America" and the CEO of Women For Hire. Visit her Web site at www.womenforhire.com
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