Job Hunting

from:
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/11/17/finding-a-job-in-your-own-backyard/?iid=HP_River


How do you look for a job in your own backyard? As with any other job search, the most effective approach is through in-person networking. If you don't know any locals, staffers at ExecuNet, a nationwide career network for senior managers, recommend starting with these five steps:
1. Search job boards by zip code. Many job sites, including CareerBuilder.com, Dice.com (for IT jobs), and RetirementJobs.com (for people over 50, whether "retired" or not), allow you to enter your target zip code and get a list of openings in the area. Even if nothing pops up right away that seems like a fit, this will give you a general idea of who's hiring near you.
2. Read regional business journals and community newspapers, with an eye toward identifying companies that seem to be growing (read: hiring). Staying on top of local news can often help you spot opportunities that aren't advertised anywhere.
3. Join the nearest Chamber of Commerce. These groups have a wealth of information about local businesses, often including contact information for key executives. Pinpoint a few that might interest you and develop a two-minute "elevator pitch" about what you could offer.
Then introduce yourself. "Target companies with needs that you can fill," says Mark Anderson, ExecuNet's president. "Analyze how your skills and experience could solve a specific problem or challenge they're facing."
4. Check out the directories in local office buildings. Those lists in the lobby showing suite numbers for different companies are a Who's Who of small-to-medium-sized employers and startups. Study each of their websites. Set up Google alerts to catch updates on their activities that might clue you in to actual or potential job openings.
5. Get to know headhunters in your field, if you don't already. "Recruiters often specialize in a particular function or a specific industry," Anderson points out. "They tend to look for candidates over wide geographical areas, and they may be trying to fill openings near you for big client companies that are based elsewhere."
A suggestion: If at all possible -- maybe on the weekends -- do try to get involved in a nearby community organization. Churches (or synagogues, or mosques), the local Red Cross, the YMCA or YWCA, the PTA, and many other kinds of groups often have lots going on, even in very small towns. They're great places to start getting to know your neighbors, including those who might know of job openings.