Tip #4: Be A Chatterbox

Talk to people – anyone at all

You never know who will be able to help you land your next position. I truly mean this. Say someone invites you to an event for zoologists, but you are really looking for a job in computer science. Go. One of those zoologists might be married to the HR Director at Google – you just never know. In Pittsburgh, I think this is especially important. Our city is small, and closely knit, which makes it easier to make some great connections. Unfortunately, this also means you sometimes end up meeting the same people over and over again, which is why it’s good to get out of your comfort zone.

This is also true for you college students who think you don’t have time to network. In fact, this is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Don’t wait for employers to come banging on your door – leave campus and get out there and meet people! You’ll find that a whole new world awaits full of individuals and ideas that you would have never encountered if you kept to the circles you already knew.

Last but not least…Check back for Tip #5 on Monday

Slammin’ Networking Opportunity

Tomorrow is the PTC’s Summer Slam…a large, free networking happy hour for IT and IS professionals. It’s a great opportunity to meet employees at top Pittsburgh companies, as well as user group members from around southwestern Pennsylvania.

Calico Jack’s Cantina
07.17.08
5 – 8 p.m.

Read More or Register

What to Expect:
Developers, leave your code at the office; DBAs, forget Oracle and SQL for one night; CIOs, you can worry about the information technology audit tomorrow. It’s time for Pittsburgh user groups to unite! For the seventh consecutive year the summer socials of many Pittsburgh user groups — including Java, .NET, Oracle, SQL, SharePoint, and many others — combine for a unique night of networking and fun. Learn about the benefits and challenges of each technology through informal conversations with peers. Enjoy free appetizers, raffle prizes and a cash bar. Other participating user groups include ALT.NET, Coding Dojo, IIBA, ISSA, PghBOUG, PghDWUG, PITCFUG, PMI’s IT SIG, SalesForce.com, STC, WPEAF (tentative), WPLUG, WPVMUG, WSMQUG (tentative) and WSUG. Attend and interact with your peers to learn the meaning of each acronym.