For Students Frustrated by Job Search, Zyncd Helps Get a Foot in the Door

London, United Kingdom, December 11, 2014 --(PR.com)-- In the 2014 After College Career Insights Survey, 69% of college students and recent graduates reported that they found looking for a job or internship difficult or very difficult. For students that find jobs, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimates that (as of June 2013) 35% of college graduates are underemployed in positions that do not require a four-year degree. One reason that college graduates find it difficult to secure employment after graduation, is that the way in which recruiters find qualified candidates has changed. 70% of jobs are found through networking, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics, making it an important element of any job search. Despite its importance, researchers from the Administrative Science Quarterly find that most people feel “dirty” after networking. The most uncomfortable thing about networking for participants? Having to approach strangers at events.

A new startup, Zyncd, is taking the awkwardness out of networking; enabling anyone to network online by giving and asking for advice. Zyncd members can connect with an expert for 11 minutes of quick advice, in seconds. People who are intimidated by networking, like Matjaz Tercej, find it especially helpful: “This is an awesome concept. I am a bit of a nerd and would feel awkward just calling someone, but with Zyncd as a ‘proxy’ that feeling is gone.”

In addition to offering an alternative way to network, Zyncd also provides students access to a variety of experts. Zyncd members include alumuni from universities like London Business School, Harvard, and Columbia, as well as professionals from companies like BMW, McKinsey & Company, IBM, American Express, Warner Music Group, and more. These experts are willing to give free advice on many topics, including getting a job. Networking on Zyncd can lead to collaboration, business opportunities, friendships, or even recruitment – just like in the real world.

A unique feature that distinguishes Zyncd from other professional networking sites is the ZyncdScore. Anyone can quickly identify the best expert, without having to read every profile, using the ZyncdScore. It is also easier for recruiters to identify top candidates in each field. Students without any work experience can establish themselves as expert by giving great advice and increasing their ZyncdScore. Know the secret to beating Call of Duty? Be a gaming expert. Have a great strategy for how to write a paper in less than 48 hours? Share your education hack on Zyncd. Students interested in a career in digital media can give their résumés a boost with the Zyncd Digital Marketing Contest. By showing off their knowledge of digital media, students and young professionals can win up to 1000 euros (approximately $1200), and have their work reviewed by industry leaders from companies including Salesforce.com and Net-a-Porter.

Networking connects students to expertise and people which they might not have access otherwise. By building a professional network on Zyncd, college students can stand out from a crowd of applicants, circumvent some of the challenges of landing a job or an internship, and get valuable advice at no-cost. There are also hidden benefits to networking: a recent study released by MIT and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York finds that applicants referred by an employee were 1.) more likely to be hired 2.) had a higher starting salary.