Job Hunting? Network at Coworking Centers

Christine Durst and Michael Haaren
Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:00:00 -0800
Lifestyle

Many job seekers are probably overlooking a significant networking resource — coworking centers. Here's the gist.

SAME OLD PATH, SAME OLD RESULTS
Updated: Tue Jan 27, 2015

Many job seekers are probably overlooking a significant networking resource — coworking centers. Here's the gist.

SAME OLD PATH, SAME OLD RESULTS

Job seekers often rely on well-worn paths and are surprised when it takes a long time to find a job. But "well-worn" means just that — following the same route as everyone else. Almost all of their job hunt will be done online from home. Most of their networking will also be done online, via LinkedIn or Facebook or "silos" of professional groups.

Meanwhile, networking offline usually means having an occasional coffee at Starbucks with a friend or a contact with hope for news of a job.

Those efforts are necessary but not sufficient. More is needed. Coworking centers, while not a panacea, combine all of the above and quite a bit more, minus the home office. They offer the online access, the face-to-face chat, snacks and refreshments and the chance to network with a group of people who have jobs, startup companies or freelance livelihoods.

Since many jobs are not advertised but are filled through word-of-mouth, this last factor may be the most valuable of all.

WHAT IS A COWORKING CENTER?

Stripped to its core, a coworking center is a collaborative and informal place to work alongside other people. But as the movement has spread — there are reportedly over 700 centers in the U.S. alone — so have the variations, which now include everything from childcare to aerobics to workshops and classes.

Coworking centers typically offer daily passes, as well as monthly and annual memberships. Prices vary widely, so check websites for details. Here are some examples of centers in the larger U.S. cities.

—Sandbox Suites (www.sandboxsuites.com) — In four locations in the San Francisco Bay area, Sandbox Suites is one of the poster children of the coworking movement.

Per their site, "Sandbox allows independent professionals to have a full-service shared office and meeting space no matter where they happen to be with the added benefit of a supportive community of other independents. Sandbox offers several levels of memberships that include month-to-month virtual, part-time, full-time, private desk and private office memberships as well as daily drop-ins."

—Link Coworking (www.linkcoworking.com) — Located in Austin, Tex., Link Coworking was founded by Liz Elam, a former Dell employee who had reached the limits of working from a home office and local cafes. Per its site, Link offers both private and public working areas, free beverages and snacks, concierge services and a nifty old-fashioned "phone booth" for private cell-phone calls.

—Green Spaces (www.greenspaceshome.com) — In New York City and Denver, Colo., Green Spaces, as the name suggests, offers coworking with a green and social-impact twist.

According to their site, "We have a following of 25,000 people nationwide and have been home to more than 1,000 game-changing startups and organizations. Currently, we host more than 200 companies in New York and Colorado."

RESPECT THE SPACE

When you visit a coworking center, be sure to respect the privacy and work needs of others. Your primary motive may be to network, but don't make it your primary activity. Use the facilities to continue your online job hunt and related activities, with occasional breaks to get to know others. Be sure to bring business cards, but don't be a pest. As in everything else, moderation is best.