To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected]. Currently, there is no option to place obituaries through our website.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263.

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**General Information Needed for Obituary Submission:**

– Your full name
– Address

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**Tips for Networking and Job Searching**

1. **Start Easy**
Begin with well-connected people you already know who work in different fields. It’s an easy email or phone call to make as long as you’re specific. For example, asking if they know anyone at ABC Company is specific. Asking if they know anyone in manufacturing could also work, although it’s broader. Asking about job leads in general is usually less effective.

2. **Find More Names**
Even with help from your contacts, you’ll likely need more names for managers and others in the field. Surprisingly, you can have a lot of success online by searching:
– The company website (all pages)
– Related professional associations
– Newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and magazines in the field
– Adjunct instructors at related training programs
– LinkedIn

3. **Reach Out**
Briefly introduce yourself to new contacts as someone seeking work (experienced, entry-level, specialized, etc.) and request a conversation if they’re interested. Or ask if they can connect you to someone who is.

4. **Be Findable**
Think like an employer. If you were a hiring manager who didn’t want to post a job publicly, where would you look for workers? Most would start with LinkedIn, professional associations in the field, or training facilities. Trusted contract houses are also useful for employers wanting to try out a worker before hiring. Strengthen your LinkedIn profile and introduce yourself to these “finders” that managers rely on.

5. **Check Your Progress**
If you’re not seeing an increase in quality conversations within a few weeks, you may need stronger follow-up steps or outside assistance. This kind of focused, deadline-driven job search can be intense, but it works.

Please don’t tell yourself it doesn’t work or that it only worked in the past. Human nature hasn’t changed, even if tools and norms have. People still want to hire people they know, and they do it every chance they get. The more complex the front-door hiring process, the wider the back door opens.

If you’re seeing people get jobs you didn’t even know were available, it’s worth giving this process a shot.

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Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at [email protected].
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/01/working-strategies-job-search-outreach-dont-call-it-networking/