Your job search: Where to look for job information

If you have never had to look for a job before (or it has been a while since you have had to look for a job) you may not know where to look. These are a few of the resources available to you.

• Local Papers
• National Papers - but don't just look in the jobs section. Always check the business pages, find out which businesses are moving into your area and send them a speculative letter as not all their staff will relocate when they move.
• Shop Windows
• Places that need to be "manned" 24/7 - fast food joints, supermarkets, service stations, hospitals, hotels, motels, boarding schools.
• High turnover places - whilst that includes some of the above, think about it - what are the jobs that most people hate to do and can't wait to leave - filing clerks, ironing, bathroom attendants, shopping mall cleaners, security etc. But if you are desperate for money and don't mind what you do - even if it's only for a short period of time, then don't discount these kinds of jobs. I worked in a biscuit factory straight from school. It proves you are motivated.
• Start your own business - gardening, mowing lawns, ironing, housekeeping, cleaning, dog walking, child minding, baby sitting, filing
• Speak to your network - if your networking is not working then neither will you be. Facebook, Twitter and List servs pertaining to your industry.
• Events - but don't go armed with your CV, just listen to conversations and if asked - you can then say you are between jobs at the moment, and if they hear of anything would they please keep you in mind. Bear in mind you can also pay this one forward - if you hear of someone looking for a person and know someone - then do them the favour too.
• Online job boards - get creative with your search terms though, remember what you call a certain job / position others may call it something else.
• Company websites
• Employment agencies - either niche specialist agencies if you have a particular trade / profession or generalist agencies who - like their name says - employ in more than one area. Large companies tend to use preferred suppliers for everything including employment. If you are interested in working for a particular organisation - then call up HR and inquire politely whether they are aligned with a specific employment agency.

And whilst you are working - Ok the work may not be very interesting, it may not even pay very well, but if that's the difference between having money or not - then guess what ... not only do you have something to put on your resume / cv - but you have the motivation to keep looking for something else. After all if you can get 1 job, you can get many others .... And besides you never know where it may lead. Think internal recruitment, secondments and promotion etc.

Good luck with your job search.

This was first published in the Daily Dose of Motivational Medicine