These days, landing a new job seems to be infinitely easier if you have connections. Without having some kind of in at the company where you want to work, it can be nearly impossible to make your resume stand out. And while LinkedIn may be a treasure trove of information and contacts, getting someone to respond to you about a job opening at their firm is probably going to be an uphill battle.
So how do you connect with someone inside a company who’s willing to help your job application and resume get to the right person? From what I've seen at Fairygodboss, it seems that specialized groups and closed communities are where people may be more inclined to help a stranger out.
There are thousands of women’s organizations out there, so the key is to find a community or group where there’s a practice of paying it forward. If the DNA of the community allows (and even encourages) asking and giving help, that’s incredibly valuable.
Here are 7 professional communities that focus on connecting women with each other:
These communities are just a few examples of the ones in which women are banding together to help each other in a professional context. And help is something every job-seeker benefits from. An introduction to a current employee can make a world of difference if you're trying to stand out as a job candidate!
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A version of this article originally appeared on Forbes.
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