why doesn't networking for a job ever work for me?

[skim milk]

What am I doing wrong? How are we supposed to do it?

I have a friend with a similar background who was able to network through the alumni database of our current university to go straight to the final round for a sales and trading position at a very well known firm in nyc. I'm not even aiming for those competitive jobs and I've tried networking to get interviews for positions I'm fit for, but I haven't been able to get a single one.
The furthest I get is, my resume would get forwarded from the employee who works at the firm and this hasn't had much response at all, not even after trying to follow up with the recruiter. Any advice?

 

[Pepsei]

try getting a job thru friends.

 

[mooglemania85]

Your friend has boobies?

 

[Alistar7]

Yoar teh suck at teh networking.....?

 

[mrkun]

Didn't anyone tell you? You're expected to give sexual favors in return for the job.

 

[irishScott]

You need to get someone in a position of influence to know, or at least like you. This takes time.

IE: I was the first "straight out of high school" intern at my local Lockheed Martin facility (Software Engineering, $14/hour). Ever. How did I get there? I was a lead programmer on my school's FIRST Robotics team (google it). Lockheed Martin, one of the team's sponsors, sent a few employees as "mentors". I made a good impression on one of those "mentors" over the 7 week competition period, and flat out asked him if there "were any opportunities" at the end. It worked out. I got the internship that summer, came back for a 2nd tour last summer, and I'm lining up for a third. (I'm currently a college sophomore) Meanwhile, most of my peers are applying for the advertised internships and, at best have stiff competition. My slot's all but guaranteed as long as I produce excellent work. Granted, they opened up the program last summer, so now I have some unofficial competition for work quality. Just means I've got to get better... :evil:

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

It also depends on what industry you are in. Some industries have less networking going on than others. Industries heavily involving sales will have more of it going on than most others.

 

[SwiftWind]

I'm curious, what field is your background?

 

[zinfamous]

Deodorant.

 

[Pepsi90919]

perhaps the connectors are not tight or you are using the wrong protocol.