Job Search January Challenge #5
In Challenge #2, Network to a New Job, we talked about networking and how the majority of job openings are never advertised. Nonetheless, there are lots of job postings in a variety of places that you’ll want to watch for. Following job boards should not be overlooked as an integral part of your job search.
Classifieds
The old standby, the Employment Classified section, is still around and still worth following. Now they’re online, too, giving you another convenient option for following.
Your local employment office or community job center
Job centers not only have job boards but also offer lots of other resources, too. Usually you’ll need to create an account in order to apply to jobs through the job center. This is well worth it! Often job services offer free resume assistance.
Temp agencies
Temporary work can bring income during your job search, but might also lead to a full-time job. In fact, way back when I was a snowboard instructor I got hurt, took some temporary work through an agency, which led me into a several year career in project management.
Craigslist
Craigslist is free for employers, so often there will be jobs listed there that you won’t find anywhere else. Go to http://www.craigslist.org, find your city, and then search the Jobs section.
Indeed.com
Indeed.com has millions of listings from thousands of sites, including job boards, newspapers, even company employment pages. This is a great site for one-stop shopping. Others are monster.com, careerbuilder.com, and simplyhired.com.
Research companies
I also recommend researching companies in your industry that you might be interested in working for. Follow them in the news and via social media (more on that later) and look for opportunities that might suit you.
Challenge #5: Follow Job Boards
Make it a daily habit to check online boards or set up alerts so they notify you of new postings. Sign up at your local Job Service and Temp Agencies. Check your local job classifieds.