It’s one of the first things Lea Alvarado advises CU-Boulder alumni: When looking for your next job, network more, browse job listings less.

“Networking gives you access to the ‘hidden job market,’” says Alvarado, manager of CU-Boulder’s alumni career program. “More than 80 percent of jobs never make it to any job board, and the only way to find those opportunities is through networking.”

Alvarado, who works one-on-one with about 500 alumni each year, says job seekers should spend the vast majority of their time networking — about 80 percent. This means attending events to meet new people or conducting informational interviews, a more targeted networking approach used to gain advice and cultivate relationships in a field of interest.

In addition to coaching alumni in a variety of networking strategies, Alvarado and her team counsel alums about the most effective use of job boards — which ones to use for particular searches, for example.

Schedule a meeting with Career Services. The first two sessions for alumni are free. Call or visit .