Before purchasing more classified ads, step back and assess your overall hiring strategy. Knowing what you want, and where to find it, can land the preferred fish in your net. Once you have a job description with clear requirements, you are ready to choose the optimal channels for reaching in demand employees. The goal is to acquire the right people without triggering an avalanche of unsuitable applications. Focus on when, where and how your target audience accesses information to find good people looking for work.
Related Articles
Temporary Employees
Some semiskilled and unskilled workers, along with retirees, look for jobs that last a few weeks to supplement their income and pay off bills. Since money is a motivator, offer referral bonuses to encourage new hires to recruit their friends. College students like to earn extra money, too. Depending on your age requirements, high school students may be recruited, as well. Temporary employment agencies can assist with your labor needs for a fee. You may want to post flyers around town in places such as laundromats, thrift stores, credit unions and homeless shelters. Be creative in tackling the challenge of finding people looking for the kind of work you are offering. If your costume company needs extra help around Halloween, jointly recruit workers with a retailer needing seasonal workers November through December, for instance.
Recent College Graduates
If you are seeking to fill entry level white-collar jobs, snatch up the talent before commencement. Offer college internships and recruit at job fairs where you can find dozens of eager students with resumes in hand. Heavily tap social media if you desire this demographic. Post jobs on your website, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter or whatever is trending at the moment. Job boards such as Monster.com., CollegeRecruiter and Indeed are also popular with this crowd. List your openings with the career center on campus where students look to find part-time and full-time work. If you are seeking specific majors like accounting, reach out to the campus accounting club and faculty in the accounting department. Some universities will allow employers to sit at a table in the student union and promote job opportunities to graduating seniors who are looking for jobs.
Skilled Trade Workers
Use word of mouth to let colleagues know that you plan to hire top-quality people with trade skills such, as electricians, carpenters, welders and construction workers, who are looking for work. Ask your contacts to spread the word to fellow Union members. You may want to advertise on internet sites such as, Craigslist, USAJobs and Glassdoor. Plenty of people still read newspaper classified ads, too. With 250,000 military veterans transitioning to civilian life each year, they offer a trained, disciplined and diverse labor pool. Find them through online military job boards like, Hire Vets First and Military.com. Contact vocational school staff and labor unions for additional advice in filling your positions. Sponsor your own Job Fair and encourage job seekers to stop by for information on current and anticipated job openings. You can also list jobs for free on some Department of Labor websites to find people looking for jobs.
Experienced Professionals
LinkedIn offers exceptional networking opportunities, especially for professionals in business, health, education, information technology and human services. You can promote your job and you can find experienced professionals with the skill set you’re seeking, by posting current vacancies on LinkedIn. Also post ads on the job boards of professional associations. For instance, if you prefer people with college admissions experience, consider listing your opening on Higher Ed Jobs.com, which is widely read by those in higher education. Also capitalize on the opportunity to diversify your workforce by contacting organizations like DiversityJobs.com that have job boards widely read by skilled workers seeking jobs. Social media should be part of your strategy, too, because professionals are generally tech savvy and looking for their next career move up the ladder.
References (7)Resources (1)About the Author
Mary Dowd holds a doctorate in educational leadership and a master’s in counseling and student affairs from Minnesota State Mankato. Helping students succeed has been her passion while serving in many areas of student affairs and adjunct teaching. Currently she is a dean of students at a large, public university. Dr. Dpwd’s writing experience includes published research, training materials and hundreds of practical online articles.
Cite this Article
Choose Citation Style
Mary, Dr. 'How to Find People Looking for a Job.' Work - Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/people-looking-job-8827.html. 01 July 2018.
Mary, Dr. (2018, July 01). How to Find People Looking for a Job. Work - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://work.chron.com/people-looking-job-8827.html
Mary, Dr. 'How to Find People Looking for a Job' last modified July 01, 2018. http://work.chron.com/people-looking-job-8827.html
Note: Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name.
A few weeks ago, team Zealify went to a meetup called ‘Talent Stuff’, an event that educates startups (i.e. the companies on Zealify!) on hiring best practices. One of the internal recruiters speaking at the event said something that really stuck with me. I’m paraphrasing but; “If I can’t find you online then I’m not interested.” If you think about it, that makes perfect sense - why would someone waste their time looking for people who aren’t findable when there are SO many people that are? Flipping that around; how do you think you’re going to be able to find a job if nobody knows you’re looking for one? I think this is a simple but really important point that many job seekers are failing to realise.
With this in mind, in this post I’m going to outline a few quick tips - that can all be done today - that will make it easier for people to find you if you’re looking for a new job.
Social tagline and bio
The main tool you should be using in your job search in LinkedIn. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you need to be. Even if you’re not looking for a new job right now. We’ve spoken before about how to create a killer LinkedIn profile for your job search.
One thing recruiters will do when looking for people to fill a role, is search LinkedIn for keywords that indicate someone is looking for a new role. This is where your tagline on LinkedIn comes in - if you have keywords that they search for, you’re more likely to be found.
Common keywords / phrases for LinkedIn taglines include the following:
PRO TIP: Include your industry as well as the fact you are searching for a new job. This will make you more visible to recruiters that are more targeted with their search. e.g. “Currently seeking opportunities in x, y, z.”
In a similar way to LinkedIn’s tagline, you can use your Twitter bio to become more searchable by including keywords that recruiters might search for. You can also use Twitter to let your followers know you’re looking for a new role. One of the best ways to do this is pinning a visual tweet to your profile (an image that everyone will see as soon as they hit your profile). Canva is a great tool to quickly create an image, and they have pre-set image sizes so you can simply click ‘Twitter Post’ and have peace of mind that it’s going to look like you want it to when you upload it.
Ask your connections for referrals
Going one step further than letting people know you’re looking for a new role, is asking them for referrals or recommendations.
This tip is simple - use LinkedIn for exactly what it’s tagline says it is, “The world’s largest professional network”. Build your network and then use it to your advantage by asking your connections if they know of any companies that are hiring or might be interested in having a conversation. You’ll be surprised who comes out of the woodwork and introduces you to someone or at least suggests a few companies you’ve never heard of before.
Looking For Job Los Angeles
In fact, it’s actually more likely that people you don’t expect to help you out will be the ones that do. Reid Hoffman talks about this in his book ‘The Startup of You’. He argues that ‘weak ties’ are more likely to provide you with opportunities than ‘strong ties’. This is because close family and friends often hold the same information about potential opportunities as you. It is the information on opportunities outside of this circle that will provide the most value. Also, he argues that people are seen as more credible if they endorse someone that is not obviously a strong tie (like a family member) and therefore people are more likely to recommend weak ties.
PRO TIP: Write a post on LinkedIn’s pulse asking for referrals and / or introductions. When you publish a post, every one of your connections gets a notification, so you can guarantee that they will all see it. Remember to include who you are, what your skills are and what you are looking for.
Asking for referrals doesn’t only have to happen on LinkedIn. You can ask on other social media channels or even (shock horror) in real life! In general, people want to help. Just ask. What have you got to lose?
Personal business cards
One thing you’ll need if you are going to start networking and asking people for help in person is some personal business cards. Personal business cards are an essential part of your personal brand when looking for a new job; they will make you look professional, help people remember you and let you leave a great lasting impression on anyone you meet that could help you in the future.
PRO TIP:moo.com is a great site for creating professional looking business cards that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Email signature
We’ve written a whole post on the subject of using email signatures to help your job search, so I won’t go into too much detail here. Here are the main points:
DO:
DON’T
Think about it; how many emails do you send in a month? You could be letting that number of people know you’re looking for a new job in a professional, non-spammy way. That’s a huge missed opportunity if you’re not utilising it.
PRO TIP: Use WiseStamp to create your email signature. WiseStamp enables you to create a professional looking email signature that gets inserted into any email you send.
Sign up to Job Boards
This doesn’t mean using job boards to spam employers by applying to hundreds of roles with the same application. The idea is that in order to be found, you need to be wherever employers or recruiters are looking. Job boards are obviously a huge source of candidates for employers and recruiters, but not just through applications. Most job boards have a searchable CV database that can be used to find and contact relevant job seekers. You need to be in these databases. So sign up and optimise your profiles on each site to become more visible.
One negative to doing this is you can almost guarantee you will be contacted by recruiters with completely irrelevant roles. The tables turn and you’re the one getting spammed; you'll get a taste of how the hiring managers feel when receiving hundreds of untailored applications - not very productive is it?!). However, the positives here far outweigh the small bit of extra leg work it creates, so persevere because their could be a great needle in the haystack. As with your job applications to employers, the best opportunities will stand out.
![]()
Remember, LinkedIn is not just a professional network, it’s fast becoming one of the world’s biggest job boards. Their most recent report (Feb ‘15) stated they had 3 million active jobs posted on the platform. This simply reinforces the fact that you need to be on LinkedIn.
PRO TIP: If you can, purchase LinkedIn’s Job Seeker Premium profile. This will help you hugely in standing out and getting noticed by employers and recruiters searching for potential candidates, with your listing being ‘2 x more prominent than other search results’.
One final thing to keep in mind, is that if you are embarking on a job search you need to be prepared, and if you want other people to help, you need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Think about crafting a personal bio that people can use in recommendations, make sure your CV is up to date and in the correct format etc. You could even pre-write whole emails for people to simply click ‘send’. Take as much of the work out of other people’s hands as possible.
So there you have it. Some quick and easy tips that will help you let people know you’re looking for a new job; because let’s face it, if no-one knows you’re looking for something, how are you going to find it?
EDIT: What if you're looking for a new job discretely (without your boss knowing)?
I was asked this question after publishing and thought I'd share my answer:
It's a good question and a tough one.
The only advice I can give is to do the things that would seem perfectly reasonable whether or not you were looking for job. In the main part this means networking and starting conversations with people at companies you admire or could see yourself at.
In an ideal world, you will want to be open and honest with your boss about the fact that you are exploring other possibilities and the reasons why. This should help them understand and either accept that it is time for you to move on (and be supportive of your career growth), or work with you to rectify any issues that could be causing your desire to leave. It will also enable you to give your boss the courtesy of working through your notice period or longer, and help them find a replacement if needed, so that you leave no burnt bridges.
Of course this all depends on the circumstances.
Have you found any of these tips useful? Do you have any to add? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment below, or send us a tweet @LiamNolan90.
This post originally appeared on Zealify’s blog.
Eighty percent of job seekers say their network has helped them get a job. If you haven’t tapped into yours yet, you may be overlooking the key to landing the job of your dreams. But you’ll never know for sure unless you reach out and ask for a referral. Last stand hive tyrant build.
This often means going beyond your immediate network and contacting people who share a mutual acquaintance with someone you know. Referral letters are a perfect way to ask these more distant connections for job leads, advice and/or contacts at employers.
Even if your letter doesn’t immediately lead to a new job, it can expand your network, which increases your chances of hearing about the next opportunity that would be perfect for you.
A referral letter might also net you valuable career advice or a brand-new mentor who can guide you to new levels in your field.
Of course, if you’re not in the habit of hitting up relative strangers for help, this can feel a little uncomfortable at first. It’s useful to have a template in mind, to make things easier.
But first, a few tips on what your referral letter should contain – and what it shouldn’t.
Tips for Sending a Referral Letter That Gets Attention
Referral Letter Example
You can use this sample as a model to write a referral letter. Download the template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or read the text version below.
Download the Word Template
Referral Letter Example (Text Version)
Your Firstname Lastname
Your Address Your City, State Zip Code Your Phone Number Your Email
Date
Firstname Lastname
Job Title Company Street City, State Zip Code
Dear Mr. Lastname,
I am a friend of Janice Dolan and she encouraged me to forward my resume to you. I know Janice through the Brandon Theater Group, where I am the technical director. We worked together on several local theater projects.
I'm interested in relocating to the San Francisco area in the near future. I would appreciate any recommendations you can offer for conducting a job search for a theater position or finding job leads, and any help you can provide with the logistics of relocating to California.
My resume is attached. Most of my theatrical experience is in lighting and projection design; however, I have worked in most backstage areas during my career.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your Signature (hard copy letter)
Your Typed Name
Referral Email Example (Text Only)
Subject: Referred by Chris Rogers
Dear Ms. Weiss,
My colleague Chris Rogers recommended I contact you to find out if you had any recommendations regarding employment in the publishing industry in New York. I am currently employed at Polar Publishing House as an assistant marketing director.
I would be thankful for any advice you have regarding my job search. I would greatly appreciate it if you would review my resume, and I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your convenience.
Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Betsy Billings
How to Transform Your Small Business into a Big Business
Referrals are one of the top ways to grow your business. You already know that.
What you may not have realized is that you can exponentially increase the number of referrals you get, dramatically increasing your client base, by doing one simple thing—learning how to ask for referrals.
Many small business people don't bother with referrals. Maybe they just assume their clients will pass along good word-of-mouth about them. Maybe they find asking for referrals uncomfortable. They hope to get referrals, of course, but they don't overtly do anything about it. So when a job is done, they just walk away, leaving half their dinner on the plate.
On the other side of the table, the client has his or her own concerns, and none of them have anything to do with helping to grow your business and get you more clients. But assuming that you've done good work and the client is satisfied with your performance, it's not that they don't want to help you out. It's that it never enters their minds unless you ask them.
Looking For Job In Il
So do you want to get more clients? Then set aside your squeamishness and force yourself to get in the habit of asking for a referral from every satisfied customer.
Get Over Your Fear
Use a Script
Until asking for a referral has become a habit for you and you are comfortable with it, write yourself a script to follow. Remember, you're not making an Oscar acceptance speech here. When you ask for a referral, be sincere and direct—and brief. Say something such as,
'I'm really glad that you're pleased with my work. I'd really appreciate it if you'd pass my name along to anyone else you know who would be interested in _____________ (what you do). May I leave these extra business cards with you?'
Leaving extra business cards with a person makes it easier for them to pass your name and contact information to someone else.
Another variation on this script is to be even more direct and ask for names when you're asking for referrals. For instance, you might say:
'I'm really glad that you're pleased with my work. I'm always looking for referrals and wonder if you know anyone else who might be interested in _______ (what you do).'
Pause here and see what they say. Some people will offer some names. Some will say 'Yes, maybe' and not offer any further information. Some will say 'No' but at least you tried.
If they do offer names, take the names down and ask the person if they mind if you contact the people directly or if they would prefer to pass your information along to them yourself. If they don't offer names, ask if you can leave them some additional business cards that they can pass along.
People Looking For Job As Referrals WorkTips for Asking for Referrals
Practice Makes Perfect
Don't let your own shyness or fear get in the way of building your business. Referrals will get you more clients. And the more referrals you ask for, the more referrals you'll get, just because the customer knows that you want some. It's a small effort for a great reward.
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |