It may not seem like it, but there are jobs out there. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look. Sometimes that means job seekers need to let the jobs find them, and always it means that job seekers need to be proactive.
Let the Computer Job Hunt on Job Boards
Job seekers may not be looking specifically for a green-industry job; however, that doesn’t mean they can’t take the advice of the good folks at Bright Green Talent when it comes to conducting a job search.
Carolyn Mansfield, Community Engagement Associate at Bright Green Talent recently posted some great advice at GreenBiz.com regarding how job seekers can let their computer do more of the work for them when job hunting.
She recommends things such as setting up a Google Reader account with RSS feeds to favorite job boards instead of visiting each job board on a daily basis. This way job seekers will be automatically notified when new jobs are posted. Or how about using a job board aggregator? Don’t know what that is? Read her article to learn.
Get Out and See Where the Jobs Are
In real estate the top term is location, location, location. In human resources it is document, document, document. Well, in job hunting it is network, network, network.
Job seekers who sit in their home all day hoping to find work need to rethink their strategy. Get out of the house and into some activity. What might that include? Here is a list of ten places job seekers might meet people who can help them find their next job:
- Join a job club (also known as career club meetups)
- Attend a professional or industry association meeting
- Conduct an informational interview
- Sign up for a course at the local college and use the career center
- Participate in community groups (i.e. PTA, alumni association)
- Volunteer for a worthy cause or organization
- Connect with job services: employment agencies, temporary services, the local State Employment Development Department and community-based organizations
- Find out about and attend local job fairs
- Knock on the door of local businesses and ask about opportunities
- Ask friends, family and neighbors about their employer
Or just take the right working friend to coffee and pick her brain. Jobs have been found over conversations at parties and by walking into a place of business at the right time.
Job Hunting is a Full-Time Job
In order to make a job search pay off, it is vital to put the effort in. So job seekers need to keep in mind that just like a regular full-time job, they need to spend their days looking for work. Whether that means updating their resume and cover letter, reaching out and making contacts, or checking out local neighborhood businesses to see who is hiring.
No, it’s not easy. Yes, it takes a lot of time and effort. However, it will pay off. Sending out on-line resumes then sitting back and waiting for a response can only take job seekers so far. For those truly interested in finding a new job it is important to make their job search proactive.
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