If you're looking for a job or business contacts, networking works, but it's not for impatient people. Once you join a group, people do not flood your email boxes with contacts and job referrals. How you present yourself determines if you'll make the right connections. Things were quiet during the holidays for obvious reasons. Now I'm hearing about interviews — real interviews again. More companies and agencies are starting to look at candidates again — with the intensions of hiring. (Patience, please. The process is still slow.)

Referrals are the way to get noticed. If somebody is hiring, they always check out referrals first. How do you get noticed? Socializing helps. Here are a few places to grab some attention:


LinkedIn? Seriously? How insightful of me, right? The most obvious is a given. But if you're not getting anything out of it, it may be because you're not doing anything with it. Sure, you joined a bunch of groups. Do you do anything besides scan their job sections? Participate in a few discussions. Post a few thought-provoking discussions of your own. A voice of reason and authority makes you someone others will want to know. Just don't turn into a spammer. Respect the groups' rules and eventually you'll start seeing that people are checking out your profile. Then a few others may ask to "link" up with you.


Have you gotten the scoop, yet? AgencyScoop is one of those relatively quiet sites that creatives hear about or stumble upon, but it's starting to garner some attention. I think with a bit more interaction and activity, they have the makings of a decent site to bookmark.

• Industry news is provided my AdWeek Media.
• You can post your portfolio.
• It has national and international job postings.
• And it's free.

If you sign up before 5pm EST today (2/17), you'll be be able to catch an online screening of the documentary Lemonade and participate in a Q&A with creator Erik Proulx.



Named after the Eddie Murphy character in the film, Boomerang, Lincoln Stephens has created an impressive (and growing) grassroots movement to develop the next generation of leadership in advertising and media. (And I'm not just saying that because the site features this blog.) The program mentors and trains "ethnically diverse men between the ages of 16 and 34 in all aspects of the media industry." Speaking of mentoring, The Marcus Graham Project is launching their summer boot camp program again and is taking applications until March 5, 2010. Click here for more information. This program has already caught the attention of Ad Age, Black Enterprise Magazine and Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

Some people might say I was an "Adhole" long before I joined this group. Here I get involved in engaging debates, covering everything from Tiger Woods to unemployment blues. I just wish I lived in Chicago or New York to attend an event. It's a social site, with an emphasis on social. You have to put some time in to get to know the locals to get something out of it. If you check out my profile below, I'm ranked #3 out of the Top 40 Adholes (guess that's a good thing). And I am also designated as a "Top Blogger."



Hopefully, you are taking advantage of local clubs in your area. I believe the Adcraft Club of Detroit is one of the oldest in the country. Over the years, I've served on Adcraft PM (under 30 social group - that was years ago) and the education committees. I've made some close friends and colleagues through this organization. And every time I've been laid off, it was an Adcraft member who helped me back on my feet. In fact, a fellow Adcraft PM member played a role in helping me get a job at C-E. (A post for another time.)

Click any of the logos to learn more about these organizations. After you join, Link Me, Friend Me, whatever, Just don't spam me.