It may sound overwhelming. However, remember your objective. You aren't out to build a huge database of names. These are all steps that you can take today that will have a great payoff tomorrow. 1. Volunteer. Remember, vo lunteering is one of the most effective ways to build relationships with people. It runs much deeper than the informational interview. Your involvement with an organization bonds you to other members or volunteers with that same organization. By working together to reach a common goal, you automatically build relationships. That doesn't mean you have to hang out with these people every weekend, or even see them on a weekly basis. If you have the opportunity to connect with these other individuals regularly, which volunteering allows you to do, they get to know you better. They discover your talents, your values and your character. You in turn discover theirs. These are things that cannot normally be accomplished through a single thirty-minute meeting. Before you start getting involved with a group or organization, make sure that it involves work and activities that you enjoy. If your heart isn't really into something, then it will show in the quality of your work and in how you relate to people. That will reflect badly upon you and do much more harm than good. Remember, wherever there are opportunities to serve, there are friends to be made. Not superficial acquaintances. Not names to just jot down. Not temporary contacts... but friends . They are all around us.

2. Become an intern. Believe it or not, it not unusual for career-changers or anyone else seeking a new position to become an intern. There are lots of new books, among them Peterson's Guide to Interning , which detail thousands of these opportunities. Also keep an eye out for The Last Guide to Internships You'll Ever Need, coming soon from Adguide Publications. 3. Seek Part-Time Employment. Sounds obvious, doesn't it? By taking on a part-time job at a company that employs the kind of professional you want to become, how can that not help you? Earlier in my career, I worked for a while as a law clerk. Now I was not planning to be an attorney, but many clerks I met were. This job paid about the same as a job flipping burgers, but the other rewards were working in an environment that they were planning to spend most of their careers in and connecting with existing attorneys. It was also the perfect chance simply to get to know some people outside the college environment.  

The above is an excerpt from The Last Guide to Networking You'll Ever Need, which is available for sale for $17 in our bookstore or for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. In this tough economy, people who find jobs usually do so by networking. Written by Keith F. Luscher specifically for the job hunting students and recent graduates with zero to three years of experience who use CollegeRecruiter.com. Are you networking at least two hours a day? Those who are finding jobs are. Don't be left behind. Read this book and you will quickly find a new job. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.