Finding yourself in the middle of a job search and not knowing what kind of job you should be looking for? How do you find a great job? Where do you begin? Do you spin the wheel and say, “round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows”? How do you know what type of job is a good match for you?
You can use the temp job market as a doorway into a new career Try on some different opportunities, and let your temp agency know not just what you have to offer, but also the areas you want to improve. Short term assignments, or temp jobs, are a great way to explore different job types, giving you the chance to improve or learn new skills and try many different roles and duties. The temp job market is a great way to find a great job! Many companies use temp agencies to help them find a potential direct hire permanent employee by seeing how well they perform in the temp assignment.
The great thing about talking your way into a new job is bringing into your awareness many new opportunities. There may be a career you had never heard of prior, or didn’t consider in the past. Utilize the resources available to you. Check the want-ads, Craigslist, and job search websites. Most libraries have computers you can use for your job search, and even the want-ads can be found online. Talk to the resource person at your library, they may know of additional tools and reference materials to help you in your search.
Check with your local state employment agency as well. Many have workshops, publications, and other resources to help you in your search. Check with your local college as well, most have job search boards and postings.
Looking for a job can be a stressful, difficult time. There is so much in the news about the changing job market, unemployment rate, and major corporate job cuts. There are new opportunities that open as well, we just don’t hear about it through the media because good news just does not sell. Many opportunities are not even advertised. How do you learn about these hidden job markets? Talk to people. Talk to your friends. Talk with your neighbors. Talk with everyone! Practice your people skills, and show off that great personality you possess, you never know who you will meet that may be your future co-worker or employer!
