With unemployment approaching 10 percent nationwide, the economic challenges are ever increasing—and so are opportunities to help.

In an April 2009 session of general conference, Bishop Richard C. Edgley asked us to respond to this need. He asked us to use “our organizations to respond to the challenges of humanity” and to mobilize our response to the employment and financial challenges facing our members. He further urged, “Consider this your personal phone call.”

Let us work together to answer Bishop Edgely’s call to help those seeking employment. Here are some tips to help your friends and acquaintances—or yourself—have a more effective job search.

Latest estimates state that 60 to 80 percent of jobs are found through networking. Each of us has our own networks of people and resources that could be very helpful to others. Reaching out to your associations and to community groups has never been easier, thanks to the recent proliferation of social and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, Twitter, and others. There is no need to be shy about seeking networking opportunities with alumni or associates.

Anderson Goncalves, a 2009 MBA graduate, recently landed a job as an account representative for the Brazilian market at Infor Global Solutions. Before he got the position he was doing the typical job-hunting tasks—contacting people and sending out résumés and cover letters. But it was a posting on LinkedIn that led him to his job. “I didn’t expect that I would get a job from social networking, but I did, and I’m really happy. It took one week between the initial contact I had with the company and the job offer.”

In addition to using networking web sites, we can be proactive in helping local BYU Management Society chapters, ward and stake employment groups, LDS Employment, BYU Alumni Services, and the Marriott School’s Business Career Center find and post jobs. Leaders from each of these organizations are happy to help follow through on leads and distribute the opportunities you discover.

Many job seekers have found success in their job searches by reaching out to others for feedback on their résumés, interviewing skills, and industry preparation. Marriott School alumni are a great resource for mentoring. To connect with former classmates and other BYU alumni, log in to the new alumni portals at marriottalumni.byu.edu.

To paraphrase Thomas Edison, genius—like finding a job—is “1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.”

We have to work together to help one another in these economically challenging times. Please contact me if you know of solid job opportunities for Marriott School graduates: jim_engebretsen@byu.edu or 801-422-4802. As we answer the call to help those in need, not only will our friends receive much-needed aid but our own relationships and networks will be strengthened.

Sincerely,



Jim Engebretsen
Assistant Dean
Corporate Relations

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