My best friend from the place where I grew up was recently downsized after being in pharmaceuticals for over fifteen years. She’d like to do something green-related and is considering the solar power industry. Apparently, Northwest Ohio has emerged as ground zero for this burgeoning industry. Ironic’¦ as I remember Toledo (and am reminded every Thanksgiving firsthand) as a place where the sun rarely shines. But in this economy, both location and my friend are trying to reinvent themselves. Rock on.

When indicating she wanted to change industries, I suggested asking for an informational interview at First Solar or one of the other companies that have set up shop there. I think she thought it sounded like an entry-level networking technique, but I argued that a face-to-face approach was best in this market.

Besides, she’s smart, personable, and very attractive. She’s the whole package. But like me, she’s a woman over forty and according to this study; ‘œold age’ begins at 45 for women in the workplace. We’re both approaching the age when women begin to experience this type of discrimination. Ageism adds an ‘œextra layer to the glass ceiling’ and is the ‘œfluoride in society’ today. See what you youngsters have to look forward to.

On paper, hiring managers will start adding up the years and her resume will never even get a second look. But she has the smart, personable, and very attractive thing and I explained she just needs to meet the right people in person in order to capitalize on it. Hence, the informational interview.

Amy Ziari takes it a step further. This is where the coffee part comes in and how a cup of joe can boost your career:

Trying to break into a new industry? Meet the right people? Get your face in front of someone you look up to in your field?

Well, forget about using surreptitious techniques to get into exclusive industry events. And forget about conversing with them on Twitter in the hopes they’ll notice you.

In truth, you need nothing fancy at all: Just sincerity, an e-mail account and a few bucks to treat them to a cup of joe. I can’t tell you how many great people I’ve met this way.

Why are coffee meetings so great? They ‘¦

1. Are hard to say no to
2. Require little time commitment
3. Don’t insinuate that you just want to know a person to get a job – even if that’s what you’re after
4. Are informal and comfortable for both parties, as opposed to meeting in an office setting

I stumbled upon Amy after reading Nichelle’s post (Nichelle of Ten Money Questions!) about LaidOffCamp, an organization that puts on local events for people without a full-time job. Um, that would be 13.7 million Americans at last count. By the way, it was nice to read that Amy diminishes the value Twitter when it comes to networking. Amen to that.

She ends the post by showing readers how to write A Sample E-mail Request for this coffee date.

With a job search, there isn’t any substitute for making that face-to-face connection. Facebook isn’t going to make the cut, but offering up that free latte just might do the trick. What do you think?

Photo credit: stock.xchng.