Are You Looking For a Job in All The Wrong Places?

jobs in wrong placesWhen embarking on the journey that is your job search, many job seekers only look for jobs online.  While online tools are becoming more prevalent than ever, many employers still have open job positions that are never posted online. Offline measures, like employee referral programs, are increasing in popularity because they prove to be more efficient than flooded online job boards.

Diversify
The problem with looking for jobs in all the wrong places is sticking to one tactic. Too many job seekers put all their eggs in one basket. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of both online and offline job search tactics.

Depending on your industry, location, and personality, you’ll be able to find the venues that work best for you. To diversify your job search for success, here are some job search tactics to consider focusing on.

Tap Into Your Networks
There is great value in having a strong network of peers, industry leaders, and influencers during your job search. Tapping into your network can help you stay informed of the latest going on in your field, learn about job openings not posted publicly, and get a foot in the door with a prospective employer.

Go Local
Online job boards and classified ads are great resources to find organizations that are advertising open positions, but don’t lose sight of local resources. Your town or city could have several employers that could be looking to hire people with your skill set. These local organizations might not be advertising their open positions through large online job boards. Search local news sites for their job boards and local classified ads online.

Your community likely has several resources that can help you learn about potential local employers. You can get a list of companies and organizations from your local Chamber of Commerce or visit the library to get information about employers that might not be associated with the chamber. Check company sites directly for open positions. Staffing companies are also well-connected with local employers and could be a free resource to help connect you with those organizations.

Leverage Your Social Networks
Just like your face-to-face network, there is great value in building and strengthening your social networks. Successfully using sites like LinkedIn can help you make connections with key decision makers at prime employers. You can also expand your network to learn from industry experts from all over the world who you normally wouldn’t interact with. Join local networking groups on LinkedIn for access to job openings.

There are several other methods to find a job, and you should consider trying as many as you can think of until you figure out what works best for you. As you look for a job, spread your efforts around so you’re not focusing on one tactic. What are some job search ideas you’ve come up with when trying to expand your job seeking arsenal? Let us know in the comments section below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *