Utilizing Local Resources to Find a Job

Courtesy: businessnewsdaily.com

We can create resumes until we’re blue in the face, but that doesn’t necessarily help us find a quality job. In this article, we’re going to focus on local resources that can help you find a place to apply. And not just any place, but somewhere that caters to your field and your tastes. I guarantee, if you exhaust your resources, you’ll be able to find something that works.

It’s up to you and your resume to land the job, after that.

1. A Local Recruitment Office

Most communities have a recruitment office where you can make an appointment with a staff member and search for jobs in the area. It’s the role of this office to provide employment opportunities for those who can’t necessarily find them on their own. It also serves as a place where employers can seek staff members. Because it works both ways, this is usually an effective method to explore, and a highly recommended one, at that.

2. A Local Temp Agency

These agencies are a tad complicated, and you’ll need to be careful about how you proceed when you use one. Basically, companies (usually factories) that have temporary positions available will hire employees through a temp agency. The jobs last anywhere from ninety days to a year, depending on the needs of the business. While this sounds pretty useless in the long run, temp jobs have a tendency to lead to long-term and full-time positions for the most qualified candidates. Self-branding is a key: the more you impress an employer at a company, the more likely he/she will be to keep you permanently.

However, because this method doesn’t guarantee a long-term job, use it only as a last resort.

3. Your Local Library

Your library will almost always have an area set aside with job opportunities. Sometimes, they also have counselors, written resources, and computers to help you with your search. The first thought of many small businesses, when they have open positions, is to recruit from the library because, in many communities, it represents the center of all information. Take advantage of it. A number of small towns and villages are already losing this precious resource.

4. Bulletin Boards

These can be strung up anywhere in your community, but you’ll usually find them downtown in a coffee house or a small restaurant. The closer to “Main Street” you get, the more opportunities you can utilize. These bulletin boards will be chock full of advertisements, business cards, job openings, housing and available rentals, and local events. Much of what a recruitment office or the library won’t have, will be found posted on these boards.

5. Online Resources

It isn’t a secret that the internet is probably your best resource when it comes to finding a job. There are literally hundreds of websites available for your use, including Craigslist, which houses only local opportunities. I would use this as your first method of attack. Look for jobs online and then, if you absolutely can’t find anything that fits your needs, go into town and see what you can find by means of bulletin boards, advertisements, and posters.

6. Friends and Family

When all else fails, turn to the people around you. Employed friends and family members usually have one or two opportunities available where they work. And, even if they don’t, they might know of other job openings, based on what they found during their own employment search. You can also ask roommates from college, old professors, high school teachers, and neighbors.

7. Past Employers

Here’s something that most people never think about. Maybe you had a job in college that just didn’t pan out. Why? Because you were too busy with class and extracurricular activities to focus on it, of course. And now, here you are, looking desperately for a full-time job that can have literally all of your focus.

Yet, graduates never stop to ask old employers if they’ll consider rehiring past employees. I can’t tell you how many times my friends and family have made ends meet by working with previous employers who really loved their work. If they appreciated you then, they’ll probably consider appreciating you again now.

These are just a few of the dozens of ways you can look for jobs in your community. You can also make flyers and online profiles, call popular companies in your field, search for career coaching, or create your own business altogether. The options are endless, as long as you’re willing to put yourself out there.

Good luck!

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