Searching for Jobs
Lately, the newspapers haven’t been printing enough job openings for Americans. Back in the days, the classifieds section usually carried two or three pages worth of a list of jobs. Now you are lucky to find one page- even in the Sunday paper. Also, cruising online may help, but then again what if the job you’re looking for isn’t on the websites available? Then you’d have to become a sleuth on a mission. You must now hunt for the job using ancient methods that are still valuable.
1) Talk to people at the job you want. For instance, if you’re looking for a job in retail and you’re in line to purchase your items, strike up a brief conversation with the cashier. Ask him/her: Are you hiring? Usually they will tell you one of two things: Yes or no. Many times in business offices you can just look around and see there aren’t many people working (this can be seen at grocery stores too). Ask anyone, preferably the manager if there are any openings and you’d be glad to fill out an application.
2) Try the family connection. If you are close to your family members, that’s a good thing. Many of them have jobs. Sometimes they will forget to tell you if there are openings where they work. Ask them to bring by an application for you. Working with family can be a good thing, although some folks have horror stories to tell about it. Just make sure you let them know, “Hey, I’m looking for work. See if you can hook me up.”
3) Walk the hidden road. Now this one may be the adventure you looked for. If you have no car, take your bike or bus pass and head over to little places that people ignore. For example, the little print shop down the street, the vet’s office which is always understaffed, the local bookstore- you get the picture.
Get in your best dressed clothes and make sure you are prepared with a resume and portfolio in hand because this day you will be actively seeking out a job. You will ask for the supervisors and managers and see what they need and what they are looking for in their place of business. The reason it is so important to talk to the hiring managers and not the regular employees, is because oftentimes employees are competitive with newcomers and may not want you to find out if hiring is going on. This happens in some cases, not all.
4) Social network your way to a great job! While you are a member ofFacebook,Twitter,Myspace,Digg,Second Lifeand other places, have you thought about some of the friends you have added? What do they do for a living? Try asking them. Seek out those people who are local to you if you can and check out any job openings that way. Also, many web pages carry a link at the bottom of their page called “careers”. Clicking on this link will take you to a page with their current job listings.
There you have it. Old and contemporary ways to find a job even though there is no advertisement. You must become the walking advertisement yourself.
