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If no companies are at my college career fair for community management jobs, how can I get a start in the industry?

It's super common that I hear from students who focus 99% of their energy on college career fairs to find entry-level jobs. If community management jobs aren't available at the career fair, what can students do to get their shot at a first job?

_This is part of a question series for CMX Summit to highlight exciting careers in community management. If you are interested in a career in community management, now would be a good time to ask a question of your own!_ #community-management

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Elisabeth’s Answer

Hi Jared, as a future community manager you should try to proof that you've understood what it's about and reach out to... the community managers network. Have you only put a step in LinkedIn and other networks to find professional forums...

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John’s Answer

This advice applies more or less generally to finding work in a niche position and/or industry. Contact not for profit organizations in your region (or the regions you'd like to work), and/or in the industries your are targeting (although that may be less relevant in this specific instance.) Not for profit organizations are always looking for help, many times do not have the role you are looking for due to budget constraints and are a great opportunity to gain experience and test/practice your "negotiation" skills by helping the organization establish one or more communities that could increase their fundraising, either directly or by getting their name and cause out there.

Upside - you have an opportunity to really show what you are capable of, and in a lot of these organizations, you have an opportunity to really change their business model. Many times, if its a relatively small organization with limited resources, you may have the opening to lead some of the strategic and tactical decision making as the "local expert". The opportunities for deep and broad experience are limited only by your courage and imagination.

Downside - You won't make industry level salary, at least not initially, but that's the trade off - experience for limited income.

John recommends the following next steps:

Get a list of local charities and/or associations. If you are in the USA, all not-for profits are required to register and your local government should be able to provide you a great deal of material. In other countries, there should be a similar governmental department at some level. If you belong to a professional organization, that may also open doors for you.
Get to know a handful of targets in detail and develop working proposals you can introduce as part of your interview - you will need to sell them on what they can realistically gain by bringing you into the fold.
Go out there and hit your targets - get face time at an event, find contacts through LinkedIn, even your friends and family - pretty much everyone in the world has some in with a not for profit organization.
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