Return to PACE Index
or VMS Home Page

March, 1997

PACE Patter

Networking Most Effective Job Search Technique

In the December and February issues of this Newsletter we described the PACE
Conference and issues from the Career Policy Council. This month we discuss
the Members Services Council.   This council consists of committees which
develop programs and services that support individual members, sections and
section leadership.   Included are Awards and Recognition, Communications,
Employment Assistance, Alliance of IEEE Consultants Networks, Surveys, and
State Government Activities.   Papers in several of these areas were
presented at the annual PACE Conference last September.

A survey of unemployed IEEE members and those who had recently found jobs
revealed a significant difference in the perceived importance of
"networking" as a successful job search technique.  Networking is the
exchanging of information among individuals to build relationships and help
each other.  The reemployed members found networking by far the most
effective job search technique when compared with resumes, ads,
headhunters, consultants, and job fairs.  Depending on the source of
reemployment the difference was from 50 percent more effective to twice as
effective.  Those still unemployed considered resumes equally as effective.
Maybe that was why they were still looking for a job. All found consultants
the least effective technique for getting a job.

The Communications Committee, also, was concerned with job search.  Resumes
are a means of communication in which an individual is trying to convince
the prospective employer or client of the value which he or she can bring
to the organization.  This is hard enough in person, but to do so on paper
is even more so.  The workshop concentrated on characteristics of good
resumes, job-search planning, and skills needed for effective interviewing.
Communications covers, also, external communications to publicize section
activities to the general public through electronic and print media.  The
session on "Building a Section Media Network" covered building the network,
types of messages, methods for delivering the message, and maintaining the
network.

Surveys are an important means of detemining the needs of our members, but
they are useful only if done correctly.  The paper and session on surveys
was intended to be a guide to surveys and survey techniques as they pertain
to IEEE.    Smaller surveys done by sections may lack the statistical
validity of the total Institute surveys but nevertheless provide some
useful information.  A session on creating how to create a new award was
part of the program of the conference.  This reviewed the IEEE requirements
and presented a sample of a recent new award as a guide.

If you want more information in any of the areas discussed contact your
section PACE chair:

 Daniel W. Jackson, 540-774-0484, d.jackson@ieee.org.

Return to PACE Index
or VMS Home Page