Thursday, April 8, 2010

Wherever you are is a good place to Network!

Network Wherever You Might Be!

No matter how strange the setting, it does not hurt to try. One of the stranger places I did successful networking was through UPS (www.ups.com). In December I worked as a Driver’s Helper. (I learned that this is another job I don’t want to do when I grow up. Especially during December; those drivers work way to hard. I have a new-found respect for the UPS driver.) As a driver’s helper, we would pull up to a business or house, I’d be handed the package, run it in for delivery and run back to the truck. This would go on for many hundred stops a day.

At one business stop in Adel, I delivered an overnight letter to a business that had taken up residence in an old church. The company is Bow and Arrow productions, www.baproductionsinc.com. I asked what they did and Anne Greenwalt told me that they were a communications fulfillment company specializing in Business Theater and special events. I asked if they were hiring and if I could send them a resume. Anne said she would be glad to take a look. That night I emailed my information to her and the owner, Michael Mars. I also got hard copies into their hands.

When I followed up on my next day off (wouldn’t want to be accused of wasting UPS company time) Ann let me know that they did not have any openings, but she would keep an eye open for me. And she said to keep in touch. The networking did not result in a job, but I did get to meet a very nice person who is keeping her eyes open for me, and I have one more resource to contact.

Oh, in addition to delivering packages, we would also pick up any items that the businesses had for shipment, be it regular or overnight. The overnight shipments ranged from legal documents, a 137-pound overhead garage door spring, and shipments of frozen bull semen. Everyday was an adventure.

If anyone is interested in learning more, or perhaps hiring me, I can be contacted at:

Joe Burklund

Urbandale, IA

515/253-0337

burklund@mchsi.com

@JoeBurklund

http://www.linkedin.com/in/burklund