Here are a few more tips for conquering a small-town job search: No matter your age, you have to take networking beyond online media. CareerBuilder recommends using LinkedIn and other online networking sites. But sometimes, small towns aren’t as networked online as larger cities. Many small town businesses have employees who have spent their entire careers in that business. They wouldn’t necessarily be on LinkedIn. So you have to get out and network face-to-face, in-person, and make sure you’re talking to the people in your town who are in your field and letting them know you’re looking for a position. Look for missing pieces in your town….and start something new! The great thing about small towns is they’re often very focused on small businesses as opposed to franchises or chains. People in rural areas like to support businesses started by members of their communities. So look around your community and find a missing piece. Think about your experience and strengths and where they might lend a hand to someone else. Look for a missing piece in your industry…and pitch your services. Do you see that a business in your industry could be doing better – if only you lended your hand to it? Think about pitching your ideas and your services to a business owner. Perhaps they’ll hire you part time or on a volunteer basis to test your skills, and then consider adding you onto their staff full time. Think outside the box. This is advice you’ll receive on every job search. But especially in small towns, you may need to be even more creative with your skills to find a job for you. If you’re in marketing, it may be tempting just to look at companies that have a marketing department, but also think about churches, telephone companies, or the local Chamber of Commerce, who often need services like these. More than anything, talk, talk, talk! Small towns are famous for gossip, so use it in your favor. Tell everyone who will listen to you what you’re looking for and how you can add to a business with your skills. Talk, talk, talk! You never know who might bite! careergirlnetwork/conquering-the-small-town-job-search/
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 23:35:19 +0000
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