Two and a half years ago I was in a rut, searching for a job in a recession. It was a dark time. Although I did make some headway with the musical resume, it ended up reaching the same limitation as my childhood Stretch Armstrong toy–it could only go so far. I was fresh out of Bentley University–motivated, ambitious and very, very green. Lack of experience couldn’t justify hiring me for a majority of positions I interviewed for. Plus, the absence of an established network was a thorn in my job-hunt morale’s side.  Luckily, I ran into fellow Bentley alum Andrew Nadeau at a networking event, interviewed with his then current employer and a week later, started working.

Of course, it’s not always that easy. It can be a hugely frustrating experience, especially for recent college grads who are in the same unemployment boat that I was. Looking back, I can’t think of a solution that would’ve steered me in the right direction. My advice back then probably would’ve been something like: “uhhh, make something creative and hope it goes viral! Then knock ‘em dead at the interview with that new skinny tie.”

Today my advice has changed. The first piece of advice is “don’t take that first internship for $12 an hour–customer interaction is just a fancy word for cold-calling.” The next bit of advice would be to have a thick skin and remain resilient. It’s a tough, arduous process to find a job and getting your hopes up is far too easy.

The last piece of advice? Join ConnectHive.

In a nutshell (or honeycomb?), ConnectHive is a professional network for the Facebook generation. It’s a project that Andrew Nadeau (the guy from a couple paragraphs ago) is leading. I’m offering creative input, marketing consultation and helping create a cool video. But enough about us.

How ConnectHive works:

ConnectHive leverages your existing network of social contacts—friends, classmates, colleagues, and family–to find the career opportunities that you’re missing. Simply sign-up through Facebook and ConnectHive does the rest, providing you with actionable insight into the professional side of your social network.

The High-Five Benefits of ConnectHive

1. Easy Professional Profile Optimization: After syncing through Facebook Connect, your ConnectHive profile is automatically SEO’d. Start importing your blog posts and content updates and BAM! Instant professional profile that begins ranking in search engines.
2. Utilize Your Untapped Extended Network: Sure, you have Facebook friends working at their respective jobs, but wouldn’t it be great if you could have more visibility into this? Wouldn’t it also be great if you knew a good friend who could introduce you to someone working at a company you’re applying to? ConnectHive does this.
3. Find Your Next Business Partner: ConnectHive’s interface allows you to find, interact with and network with like-minded, passionate people who share similar aspirations. So the next time you’re working on a business idea, enlighten your ConnectHive network–you never know who might want to lend a hand.
4. You have an “in” and you didn’t even know it: In its job search feature, ConnectHive has the capability for users to apply for relevant, prospective jobs based on connections that they feel comfortable reaching out to. When you’re browsing openings, ConnectHive shows you the people you’re networked with (1st degree and 2nd degree connections) who are associated with the company you’re applying for a job at.
5. It’s Free. Always a benefit.

I’m excited to be a part of this project because it’s very relevant to where I once was–it’s a clever concept that would’ve given a clear direction to my post-graduation job hunt. I encourage you to try to it out–sign up and provide feedback. We’re excited to hear what people think. So, what do you think of ConnectHive?

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