Job searching - where to look?

Still looking for a "real" job.

Checking the newspaper classifieds daily, have my name down at a few places, plus checking the local job services website daily.

Everything I apply for there's someone better suited for the job. Been looking since May.

There's a few places right in town - do I call them to ask if they have any job openings? Or should I stop in? I'm always afraid people are turned off by my appearance (mainly haircut) when they see me in person - I give bad first impressions.

I live in such a rural area everything is manual labor in 10-12 hour shifts - I just cannot work that type of job.

Seriously? Just get your phone book out and look up establishments you think you'd like to work for and would be qualified to work for...then call and ask to speak to the manager (don't waste your time with sales associates/etc) and ask if they're hiring for a specific position/etc. Have your resume together ready to take to them if they're interested.

I've had the best look obtaining jobs that way rather than through the internet/etc.

Natalie have you applied at the hospital in FMT? They usually have filing jobs and/or front desk scheduling jobs.
Check out car dealerships too, for real! They usually look for front desk people and/or Saturday workers for the offices.
If I hear or see anything next time I'm home, I'll let you know

I've had better luck (although still no interviews) finding decent openings on Craigslist. They have it divvied up by type of job and there's usually postings added daily. Depends on how 'clued in' businesses are in your area.

The big job search sites are becoming very useless. Most of what I see on them anymore is one of three things: military recruitment, work from home scams, or teach overseas. There's very little honest private industry postings there anymore (the big job search site that starts with an 'M' comes to mind).

Honestly, Craigslist has given me more postings I am qualified to apply for in any given week than a month on that 'other' site previously hinted at.

Also, what Nikki suggested... look around and do a little research on companies you think you'd like to work for. See if they're hiring. The tough thing is that right now the economy is tanking and those who have jobs (even cruddy-paying ones like mine) hold on to what they have (when they can) and those who are unemployed have a hard time finding work. I'm trying to upgrade, and it's been tough. I also have the whole 'someone even better qualified' thing going on sometimes... okay, so far, all the time. Stick it out, try 'outside the box' and you'll find something...

Amanda

I've thought about car dealerships....but the one or two times I've checked into them someone else with more experience than I have applied. The hospital I keep missing the jobs, too..... I've called some places that aren't right in town but had no luck there. That's why I'm wondering if I actually stop in to some place in town if that might show more initiative?

Have you thought about something like Customer Service for UPS or Fedex? They all start out part time, but its decent pay and they have great benefits when you go full time. Heck, even this time of year they need people to "sling boxes" and the pay is good.

You could try careerbuilder, that's how I found my current job.

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

Seriously? Just get your phone book out and look up establishments you think you'd like to work for and would be qualified to work for...then call and ask to speak to the manager (don't waste your time with sales associates/etc) and ask if they're hiring for a specific position/etc. Have your resume together ready to take to them if they're interested.

I've had the best look obtaining jobs that way rather than through the internet/etc.

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I agree completely with this! I've always shown up in person, though, resumÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] in hand. Once I had a position created for me on the spot! Pick a place you like and if the employees are nice they are probably treated okay by the bosses. If the manager is not there, ask when to come back. Employers love to hire people who want to work there!

Don't worry about having short hair, employers will think it's a power cut and you will be a no-nonsense employee. Wishing you lots of luck, too!

I would recommend monster.com. Post your resume and sometime recruiters or employers contact you.

I would not look in a car dealership.
My sister did and was hired but they are cutting back because of bad sales so she ended up not working there.
So many are closing now.

Have you tried any temp firms? Lots of times the company you might be temping for will hire you full time.

I think you have a cute short hair cut and that shouldn't make any difference in your work capabilities!

I have always searched through the government human resources website here...do you have one there?

Also my current job, I found online through one of those Monster.ca or Workopolis type websites.

Good luck Nat!

Originally Posted by SwampWitch

I agree completely with this! I've always shown up in person, though, resumÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] in hand. Once I had a position created for me on the spot!

Pick a place you like and if the employees are nice they are probably treated okay by the bosses. If the manager is not there, ask when to come back. Employers love to hire people who want to work there!

Don't worry about having short hair, employers will think it's a power cut and you will be a no-nonsense employee. Wishing you lots of luck, too!

Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly! Depending on the size of the company, you might want to ask for the name of the human resources director, rather than the manager (HR for larger companies, manager for smaller ones). And then when you have the name in hand, use it in a short, well-tailored cover letter that you deliver in person with your resume, preferably in a crisp white 9x12 envelope.

And sweetie, your haircut is adorable! Draw yourself up to your full impressive height and put on that beautiful smile of yours... they won't be able to resist you!

Personally I would call them and make an appointment if they do have openings, rather than just stopping in.
I got lucky with my job, my pets' veterinarian was planning to open her own clinic and when she finally bought the building I asked her if she could use some extra help and she said definitely. I had to wait for them to open of course, but now I am working there and it is perfect.

Natalie, have you been checking on that website that I gave you awhile back?

I found a few things, I've been searching for jobs back home too since we're looking at moving back, but not until at least June so I'm not applying to anything eyt. So if I see anything, I'll let you know How far are you looking to travel? Just in the FMT area?

Personally I think the biggest problem is the recent freak out about the economy. I know for sure that car dealers are hurting. I'd venture that any sales job of any kind is bad news right now.

It'll clear out again. I work contracts for a living and in the last year the contacts I've gotten have been lower than I can ever remember, and I'm not in sales of any kind. It sucks but we just have to find out how to weather the storm.

I have my resume on about 50 different sites... I have only gotten one call back from a offline source and that was a newspaper ad over 5 yrs ago .. Yes go in to places it may help since you are in a smaller demographic and just cause they do not need you does not mean they do not know someone hiring ( silently ) ... you may also want to try the next few counties job services ??...

There is a local small town bank hiring - I didn't know they had a bank, or rather did but forgot - that I'm thinking I need to apply at!

Don't think, apply!

Looking for work is the hardest job most people ever have.

Good luck in your job search!