Creative job-searching tips?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m not much of a threadstarter, so I’m a little nervous, but my husband and I would really appreciate some opinions/tips. And, there are probably plenty of you out there who might find this useful, as well.

My husband is looking for jobs, having been out of work for a vast majority of the past year. He’s applied to many, many jobs over the past couple of months and hasn’t received a word from any. We’d like to know if anyone has ideas for creative strategies, ideas of types of companies to look into (or even specific places if you’re in the area), types of jobs, or good websites we haven’t thought of.

Here’s a bit about our situation/background…

My husband is 22 and has had three full-time jobs: a retail job (age 18-20), a call center job (20-21) and a temp job at an insurance company (ended 2 months ago). He has his GED and has just started taking college classes this semester - just one right now.

We’re having a lot of trouble finding jobs that he is qualified for (even retail jobs seem to be getting snapped up fast). Most job ads we look at that we even halfway think he might be qualified for turn out to require special training, college degrees, and/or more years of experience than he’s been an adult at this point!

Now that I’m in a PhD program, I’m not allowed to have a job and my stipend is $11,000 a year. It’s getting really hard to support us both on that. I’ve often considered getting a secret job, but it really isn’t feasible, since a clinical psych PhD is like having several jobs at once.

Does anyone have any ideas that we could try? We’ve looked on specific companies’ websites, the big job websites (e.g. Careerbuilder), searched into specific industries and contact companies in the area, we ask around. He’s still registered with the temp agency and bugs them regularly, but they always say they’ll call him if they have anything. We’ve tried other avenues as well… I can’t even remember them all.

For reference, we live in the Akron, OH area. Thanks!

2

Has he considered continuing temping? Most companies right now are loathe to hire because of the economic climate, which means they’ll be leaning on temps to fill staffing positions. It’s a good way of getting your foot in the door and showing the company what you can do. Yes, some companies will claim temp-to-hire and lie about it, but in the meantime you’re earning money and gaining experience that can be used to apply for the next job. Plus, it helps to network - you can ask people who are leaving the temp job as to who’s hiring. You can also get an inside view of the company and apply for other positions; you have a much greater chance of an interview if someone is willing to vouch for you.

3

Ditto on the temping. This is valuable for a number of reasons:

  1. You get to try out different types of work.

  2. The Company gets to try you out to see if you’re what they’re looking for.

  3. You’re earning pretty good money.

  4. Companies who are hurting during this recession can afford to hire people to do the work, but without paying for all the benefits that go with hiring F/T employees.

  5. You’re building a resume.

I worked as a temp for years and loved it.

4

Thanks for the responses. He is registered with the temp agency, and ever time he calls to see if there are more jobs, they say “We’ll call you and let you know.” They said they’d have some after New Year’s. And, as we know, it’s mid-February :frowning:

He’s tried to get signed up with another temp agency (Spherion). We’d heard about them from our insurance agent who said lots of her clients had jobs through there. But, for some reason we can’t fathom, they never seem to answer their phone or respond to voicemails.

Do you think he should try to find some more agencies? Is there a limit to how many you can be registered with at once?

5

Register with as many as possible. He should be up and dressed every morning so he can dash out the door should they call for a last-minute opening. Also, many agencies offer free training on various software programs. I don’t know what his experience is, but the more you know, the more positions you’ll qualify for.

In more prosperous times, you can pick and choose what kind of assignments you’re willing to look at, but if you’re hurting for money, he can accept the one-day jobs as well as the long term stuff. Just whatever he can get. It proves to the agency that he’s an asset to THEM.

Update that resume at the end of each assignment.

6

Have you tried craigslist? I know the Cleveland craigslist has a lot more opportunities than the Akron/Canton list. Also, postings for “Cleveland” go as far south as Twinsburg/Macedonia/Hudson.

Has he signed up with Area Temps? They do offer computer training at about half of their facilities.

A LOT of the postings on Cleveland craigslist are by Area Temps (you can note them by the fact that they list several cities w/phone numbers at the end of the ad), so I assume they’re always looking to fill positions.

Is your husband physically able to do physical jobs? There’s a lot of listings right now for cleaners, landscapers and general labor.

7

Well, people have already mentioned temping, but you should apply to every temp agency within the area and politely follow up about once a week. Don’t worry about being annoying. Especially since the quickest way to get rid of your husband so he stops calling is to get him a job.

You already got the big job sites.
Understand that with the economy the way it is, people will be getting pushed down into jobs they would normally be overqualified for. So that means what was once a job for high school grads might be in competetion for recent college grads until things pick up.

Applications and websites generally don’t work. What he needs to do is speak to the hiring manager for whatever store or company he is interested in.

When I graduate college, I was trying to find a job in civil engineering. I had no idea how to find a job though. For months I just responded to want ads or sent resumes to the big companies listed in the job books. After 200 resumes and a couple of unsucessful interviews (all this before the internet), I basically picked up the phone books and called every construction and engineering firm, large or small in a 45 minute driving distance asking the owner/managing director/etc if they were hiring. Once I got to the end, I went back a few days later and followed up again. Ultimately I found something.

Sometimes the brute force method works.

Also, network, network, network.
Some people try that “guerilla job search” crap. I’m not sure if handing out flyers on the street or renting an 80 billboard to post your resume on is all that effective. As a hiring manager, I tend to like resume brought to me in the traditional methods.

8

He needs to walk in to the temp agancies, wearing appropriate interview clothes. Complete the application and testing there. And call every day about jobs. “I’ll call you when I know something” months ago means they’ve forgotten you. Persistance is the key.

Go to places that do distribution. They’re often looking for someone who can read English and pick and pack product. Actually go into the HR departments, don’t just look at websites. Around here, dependable warehouse workers make $11-13/hr.

Go to Target and fill out their on-line application. Their night stockers make $.50 more than the daytime store employees.

Ask your friends if they know of any place hiring. Networking, even on a small scale, helps.

Creative isn’t the key. Persistance is.

StG

9

Thanks for all the great ideas so far. I really love doing job searches, but I also have a fairly specialized field, so I have a better idea of where to look for myself (plus I’ve been to several different colleges/related jobs and have plenty of networking opportunities). Didn’t know what to suggest for him, though, as he’s in such a different situation.

He set up interviews at some more temp agencies earlier today, so hopefully he can get some bites from that. Most seemed to have jobs available. I think it’s also a very good idea to actually physically show up at these places, though every time he’s tried that they referred him to the website. Can’t give up, though - at some point, someone will be impressed (and maybe more motivated with an actual person standing there, waiting).

I’ll send him the link to this thread (he’s not a member). If anyone has any other ideas, feel free! :slight_smile:

10

This. Temp sites are fine, but they are temp. He needs an advantage. He needs to figure out the kind of company he wants to work for, figure out a good pitch about how he is the right person for them, and go talk to people. They might not have anything now, but if they do they may decide it will be cheaper and easier to hire someone with the guts to walk in. I’ve seen reports of lines of hundreds of people trying to interview, no hiring manager wants to deal with that. Most job openings exist before they make it to a temp agency or a web site or the paper. The time to snag the job is before anyone else knows about it.

I assume you are also mentioning that he is looking to everyone you know. Good luck!

11

I third this. I would call, however, after researching to find out who to talk to (might be HR, but might also be the manager). I fear you may be stopped by a receptionist, but if you can get a name (by checking out “About Us” on websites, for example) or calling and asking for the name of the HR manager, then call back and ask to speak to that person. It should be short (like 30 seconds?) and should go like this:

Hi, my name is xxxx, and I am a skilled and professional xxx with experience in xxxx. In my previous positions I was responsible for xxx (or, I accomplished xxx), and my coworkers and previous supervisors would describe me as xxxx. I am interested in a position of xxx, and would like to discuss with you how my skills may match your needs. Would you be available to talk more extensively this coming Monday, or would Tuesday be better?

Call every company you’re at all interested in. It does not matter if they have jobs “available”. Many jobs are not advertised. Be polite, and focus on sounding like someone they’d like to meet, not a pushy jerk. For god’s sake, be professional! If they turn you down flat, thank them for their time and let them go. Trust me, to the right person, you will make an impression. Focus on making, say 5-10 of these calls a day, if you can?

The key - short and sweet, who you are, why you’re calling, why you’re special, ask for a meeting. Ask for a meeting! Did I mention, ask for a meeting!!!

12

Have people really gotten jobs by basically cold calling companies? I mean, I suppose it must work for sales, since they keep doing it, but it seems kind of shady to me (admittedly, maybe because of how it’s normally used in sales).

13

The recommendation I’ve read is to make some sort of connection first - but that was for professional type jobs. But look, what is sending a resume except cold calling in a less aggressive way. If a manager has a job, and he or she likes the guy who showed up, who is going to get it: the guy or a piece of paper sitting on a desk.

I don’t know about other people, but I always hated reading resumes. And all jobs I’ve ever gotten were from personal connections, though one was thanks to a headhunter.

14

First off, spend the money it takes to get a copy of What Color is your Parachute. Ignore the touchy feely stuff in the last half and focus on the practical job-hunting advice in the first half. This book changed my life, and countless others.

If you dare, try my Super Secret Craig’s List method. Every time I have used this method, it has led to my phone ringing off the hook and several worthwhile job offers within a week. This method took me from “video store clerk” to “salaried professional with full benefits, college classes, company gym membership, etc” instantly. Several friends have had similar results. It’s like magic.

Post an ad in the “resume” section of Craig’s List. Make it as outrageous, funny, poignant and interesting as possible. One of mine was the touching story of how my TV blew up in the middle of the night. Another was a series of outrageous claims such as “I’m so organized when I throw papers in the air they fall down in neat little stacks.” Just write anything. Go way out there. You want the reader to be as intrigued as possible. You want them to call you for an interview just so that they can meet you.

DO NOT POST YOUR RESUME. Say you’ll send your resume to anyone who is interested. They won’t bother. It’s just as easy for them to schedule an interview. Boom, there you go, you’ve got your interviews. Good luck!

15

even sven: That sounds interesting. I’m not sure I can do it (and I fancy myself a writer! - or maybe that’s the reason why I don’t think I can, because I’m afraid if I fail, which I think I will, it’ll reflect poorly on the ability I’m counting on to find a job), but I’ll definitely consider it.

Voyager: See, I never send in a resume without tying it to a specific job (since I think putting it in a general pool is the ultimate in futility), so I don’t consider it a “cold call” at all.

My HO: Networking has never worked for me. Never. I know dozens of people in an industry I worked for once and would love to return to. While knowing these people has enriched me personally, and it’s great for recommendations, it has never, ever, EVER gotten me even CLOSE to a single job lead in seven years. It’s just worthless for jobs, as far as I’m concerned. That’s why I’m stunned that it’s seen as so important, because I’ve never seen it work.

Ah, well. Maybe I’ll have to do more training in something else entirely. Wish I knew what, but there you go.

16

Yeah, I understand the shady part. But the way I see it, it’s like presenting your summary of qualifications off your resume, only it’s more personal and you actually ask for an interview. To me, it shows initiative and assertiveness, but it’s important not to cross over the line into PITA. If you keep it short and sweet, demonstrate that you are confident in your abilities yet respectful of your contact’s time… Well, that would intrigue me. I’d keep that person in mind even if I didn’t have an opening.

Now, I will say, I got a call from a gal doing much the same thing, but she would NOT let it drop when I told her we were not looking to hire. If she had said, “Thank you, I appreciate your time. Would it be ok to send a resume?” I would’ve been ok with that, and when we do expand in the future, I’d call her.

So, you must be assertive and professional, but you must not be desperate. And as others have said, I think this is a much better option, or at least a good alternative, to cold mailing your resume.

And it is a sales technique, but what is interviewing and cover letter writing but sales? You’re just selling yourself. You’ll get lots of no’s, but you only need one yes. All you’re looking for is the opportunity to get an interview where you can really sell yourself.

17

One thing I’ll suggest is that he go to school full-time to get started on something. Between grants and loans, he should cover his tuition and expenses and have something left over to live on. Since he’s an independent student, he’ll be eligible for more financial aid. Depending on his aid package, he may also be eligible for work-study, which while not a huge amount of money, will at least keep gas in the tank. Even an associate’s degree in a good field will make him far more employable than just a GED, and if he can transfer to (or even start at) a four-year college, so much the better.

If possible, he should be hooked up with the college’s career center. They have all sorts of resources for students, including listings for part-time jobs that he can do while he’s in school, resume and interview help, and so forth. If he’s not using that, he’s wasting one of the most valuable benefits he’s got as a student. He may also be able to use your university’s center.

He should also talk to his instructor. Often, instructors (and the department secretary) have lines on jobs.

He also needs to consider volunteer work, for a couple of reasons. First, it’ll give him something to do while he’s looking. He can learn all sorts of valuable job skills on someone else’s dime (but he’ll still need that degree), and he’ll be able to network with people who may be able to help him find jobs. In fact, a classmate of mine went to work for the local Red Cross chapter on the strength of her volunteer experience and the recommendation of the chapter head.

I’d start with these, then move to brute-force job hunting. And to reiterate, he needs to think about going to school full-time, since it sounds like the only way to compete for better jobs than minimum wage is to have that degree.

Robin

18

Historically companies usually let temps go in the holiday season because of lack of orders , after the holidays are over and business picks up, the temps are brought back in. But then there was this little economic problem.

Dont stop with just one agency , sign up with every agency in range and keep calling, the thinking is that they will get tired of it and give you the first job that comes in. Manpower , if there is one near you, has an online listing of all its Jobs I believe, last time i was in need of a temp agency.

I was signed on to about 8 at one time and never really had a problem.

Now on to some unsolicited advice. I remember going through the recession in 82 and most companies that were hiring were actually going through their current employees. Since advertising would get them swamped and have inches thick stacks of resumes, they would open the process to current employees and have them recomend them.

Thats where your circle of friends and family come into play. Someone always has a brother in law, sister in law , that sort of thing thats always bemoaning that the relative has lots of applications but cant find quality people, you want those people to pass on your fiance’s situation.

The next bit of advice is that he may not get a job for months at a time , so he might have to resort to barter work. Bars or night clubs in your area might have laid off people but still need things like bar backs who bring alcohol to the bar from storage and clean up and stuff. This is a hail mary , because there is no good odds that he might get hired.

Last of all is starting his own business, not online but actual selling things on the street. You might want to check on how much a business license in your area will cost, and then decide what you may want to be selling. Buying batch amounts of cola and water and things from costco and sell them in the touristy parts of your town, or construction or factories if thats not available.

Good luck

Declan

19

This is all great advice - lots of stuff I haven’t heard before.

even sven, while the Super Secret Craigslist technique sounds like a wild long shot, it apparently worked for you and must work for others if they have a resumes section. I think he would enjoy writing something up, too. I’m just a little afraid of what others have said - companies are swamped with resumes right now. It can’t really hurt, though, right?

MsRobyn, yes, we are considering the idea of him going to school full-time. We are a little hesitant due to some plans we have within the next several years that will require decent money, but I suppose if he can’t get a good job without a degree, we will have to put those on hold anyway. So, that may be an option. I think he might not mind that, either, as he really dislikes school and would probably like to get it over with. I wish he’d do a 2-year training program/associates but he can’t seem to find anything he’s interested in within the areas that do that. May change his mind, I suppose.

Declan, the company he was temping with was apparently dropping people right and left around that time, and has started only hiring temps. We are really worried about the economy, honestly, and I’m starting to regret going to grad school as I’m able to make at least a halfway decent salary with my degrees. I’d been applying off and on for five years, though, with no luck, and was really eager to finally get started :frowning: I hope quitting will be a last resort…

He’s also going to sign on with several more agencies - he just signed on to one yesterday as per the suggestions in this thread! Unfortunately, we just moved here and don’t have a very big network yet. We’ve been asking whatever connections we do make (e.g. the insurance agent). I suppose I may have to start politely talking to people I don’t know that well in my graduate program? We’ve also somehow managed to get an apartment in a retirement community, so maybe I could talk to some of the older folks who may still have some more connections with their previous jobs. I bet word spreads fast around here :slight_smile:

Is it legal to buy batches from those big warehouse stores (we only have Sam’s Club in the immediate area) and re-sell, if you have a business license? I never even considered that but it might not be a bad idea to do something like that. His father is often out of jobs, as well, and will sell trinkets in touristy areas, but he is in a much more touristy area than our little town in Ohio! (Or really, much of nearby Ohio as far as I know… are there any tourist towns around here? We really don’t know this area well, as we just moved from the Southwest).

Thank you again for all the suggestions, we really appreciate it.

20

Re the resale thing, some e-bay businesses do exactly that, and recently in Spain a big soda company whose name I can’t remember but which I think had some sort of red and white logo recently threw a fit when they discovered that many bars and restaurants were buying drinks from the supermarket instead of through their own “restaurants channel” (it was cheaper and it is legal), but whether there’s any legal restrictions in your case you’d have to ask a local lawyer - does your school have a law department? Of course it’s a risk, like in any other business you could lose the money you invest.

I’ve been signed up with dozen of agencies at the same time.