The bottom line in
your job search is finding job leads. Many persons recently laid off who have
not been job searching for a period of time often do not know where to start.
There are many sources of job leads and techniques of assessing them. I am
hopeful that the following will be of assistance to you.
NETWORKING
a. Professional- Networking with peers and
former co-workers in your field
b. Personal- Using friends to assist in
networking. Get a resume in their hands.
c. Visit coffee shops regularly to network.
Take hard copies of resumes with you.
CAREER WEBSITES - We
have had success with the following although there may be others unique to your
field that you should access.
D. www.flipdog
E. http://wfbc.org (workforce job site)
F. www.dice.com
H. http://postnewsads.com/jobs
J.
www.Linkedin.com
Check the list of
webs in your blue guidebook.
TARGETING A COMPANY
- Target several firms you would like to work for. Go to their webs for job
leads, do an informational interview in the department you want to work in or
visit with the sales dept (they are always talkative and know what is going on
in the firm better than anyone). Visit with employees in cafes and coffee shops
where they eat to get job information. Remember, they may know of competitors
who are hiring in your field.
PERSONS YOU USUALLY
LIST AS WORK REFERENCES - These are people you most likely worked with or know
of your skills. They also may know if there are job openings as well as firms
who are hiring. After all, they work in your field.
FAMILY MEMBERS -
Don't forget the people closest to us. You may find it awkward to let family
members know that you are job searching. Remember, they too may be in the near
future. Get resumes in their hands as well as close neighbors. Build a super
network of the people most likely to help you get a job and get them resumes.
The blue guidebook has info on building networks including super networks.
VISITING JOB BOARDS
ON COMPANY WEBSITES - Most companies have job boards that you can access for
job openings
COLORADO WORKFORCE CENTERS –
Often have job leads. We have had people get good jobs leads from them.
COLD CALLING
a. Personal visits -
Knocking on doors with resumes in hand. Often dept. heads, sales persons are
available to talk to you
b. Via telephone - Calling to see if there are
job openings. Sales personnel and gatekeepers often are available. Ask if there
is a web where jobs are listed and/or if there is a company who hires contract
workers for them.
INFORMATIONAL
INTERVIEWING - Contact a department head or someone in the sales force to learn
about the company (you get inside info and learn who dept. heads, hiring
managers etc. are.
PROFESSIONAL TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS
a. Visit your organization's web and get lead
information.
b. Reading newsletters from your professional
organization can help find leads.
CAREER FAIRS - Do
attend these. Take plenty of resumes and leave one at each table. Job openings
do come up all of the time. We had one person get a call two weeks after a job
fair and get a job because she left her resume.
HEADHUNTERS - Are
another way of getting your resume out there and job leads. Many persons get
jobs from headhunters. Let them work for you.
TEMP AGENCIES -
Serve a purpose. They provide temporary jobs and permit you to get into
companies that may like your work and hire you permanently.
NEWSPAPER ADS -
Sometimes do have good job leads. Many smaller firms prefer to go this route to
hire. Check them daily. Also check newspaper websites for job leads.
ADVERTISEMENTS IN
NEWSPAPERS - Look for ads of job fairs. Many firms hold their own job fairs and
sometimes list the job openings in the advertisement.
CONTACTING COMPANIES
TO FIND WHO IS HANDLING CONTRACT WORKERS FOR THEM - Many firms are going this
route to save money on benefits. If they like you they may hire you full time.
We have a number of persons from this group who are contract workers who do get
full time employment.
DIRECT MAIL - Send a
letter of inquiry to a firm you would like to work for and attach a resume. It
helps if you can learn who the hiring manager is and send one to HR also.
CORPORATE CAREER CENTERS – Large
firms usually have corporate hiring centers and a web site. Sears, IBM and Ball are examples.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WEBSITES - In Colorado the Federal Center on Kipling and West 6th Avenue lists jobs for the government. They
also have a website.
STATE GOVERNMENT
WEBSITES - If you looked in the yellow pages you would find Colorado State
Employment phone numbers. There are state jobs openings and the state PERA has
the best benefits and retirement program.
COLLEGE PLACEMENT
OFFICES - Do not overlook your college placement office. Even if you are from
out of state your college placement office may have job leads for you. They may
even be in Colorado with large firms as well as out of state.
LOCAL CHAMBER OF
COMMERCES - Chamber offices in our communities may know of companies moving
into the area and of firms hiring locally. They are just a telephone call or
personal visit away.
LIBRARIES -
Libraries have many resources including business directories, manufacturers
directories etc. that offer a wealth of information. Use them.
SOME OTHER THOUGHTS
What techniques have
furnished you with job leads previously?
What technique did
you use the last time you got a job?
What are members of
other networking groups suggesting?
Networking is still the number one method of getting job leads.