Well, there’s a distinction between working for a University and being in academia. As an IT person working for a University – sure, you can get good experience. As a professor or grad student, I don’t see it as being very applicable, and even though you may be good, you aren’t proven.

Even if it is applicable, whether you are in academia, working for a University, or in industry, if nobody for whom you have worked is willing to introduce you to contacts they have, then you aren’t in the top 20%. Probably not even the top 50%. Doesn’t matter.

Also – most people probably know several individuals who would help them out alot but never think to ask. That’s all I’m getting at. Use your contacts to get jobs, not the newspaper.