Now Hiring
Just about everyone has their 'dream' job that, for whatever reason, usually isn't hiring. You can drop in your resume as much as you want, but chances are good you'll have to look somewhere else if you want employment (unless you're very, very lucky).
And if you're out of a job, you don't usually have the luxury of being picky. But you can't just go out and drop resumes all over the landscape, either, as there are tons of workplaces that just don't need to hire anyone new. You'll be wasting your time, not to mention a lot of paper and printer ink. So how do you find those lucrative jobs that ARE hiring without condemning your resume to the recycling bin? Here are some tips for doing so.
- First, check the listings in any local newspapers. Don't go for a paper that's a few days old, however, as any listings are likely to have been filled. Get a fresh paper and search for something in your area of expertise in the classifieds. These places wouldn't put in an ad if they weren't hiring. And don't just stick with general newspapers - most areas offer free papers specifically for job listings.
- Check job banks online. Again, many areas of the world have a job bank where employers can post positions that need to be filled, often as soon as possible. Once you find a listing, give them a call or drop by their offices immediately. Try to avoid using the email contact when you can, as email seldom leaves a lasting impression.
- Talk to your friends. It sounds like an odd tip, but it works. You'd be surprised how often pals in the workforce hear about job openings - they might just not think to tell you about them unless you ask. Often you can find jobs that don't advertise their opening this way, or at least you'll discover the hole before any ads officially go up.
- Talk to your relatives. Not only do relatives often have a bead on potential job openings at their workplace or elsewhere, they can give you a boost when it comes to applying. Having a relative who works at a job and is willing to whisper honeyed words about you to their boss is pure gold.
- Look! Get outside and wander around, going from store to store, to find 'Help Wanted' signs. This doesn't necessarily apply to big businesses, of course, but smaller places - restaurants, bars, convenience stores, and the like - will generally plaster ads on the front of their stores to save a bit of money.
- And, if you're really starving for a job, ask. Call employers and inquire as to any openings. This is something of a long shot in most cases, but you might get lucky. Making a connection through this means might just make you memorable enough to warrant a callback, as well.
Finding a job is just a matter of persistence. Openings pop up constantly; you just need to be ready and waiting when one that suits you does.
