Walt Zimmerman

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Are you having trouble finding available jobs? Are you finding it difficult to get a job interview with a company? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you are like countless others who continue to search for the next job opportunity.

Employers are beginning to look at ways to cut costs due to the current economic slump. This means jobseekers cannot rely solely on finding job openings via radio, television, and newspaper ads.

We’ve all heard the old saying; “You have to know someone to get a job around here!” There is some truth in this, particularly now. But this is where networking comes into play. This includes building and developing a network of people who can assist you in your job search.

This “job search team” will include people who have important roles in your community, previous employers, as well as family and friends. They can be your lookout for job openings that exist, but may never be publicly posted. Tell your team members about your background and the types of jobs you are looking for. They can communicate with an employer on your behalf even when you are not there. When a person in your network lets you know of a position, you can be one of the first people to apply, increasing your odds of getting the job.

Success in career search efforts, especially in today’s economy, requires many approaches. You can expect that some will be out of your routine. No single strategy will get you the job. It all depends on how you develop and utilize a strategic plan of networking and other job searching techniques.

To get assistance with these networking strategies and your career search, and receive up-to-date career advice, resume assistance, and countless other tools and techniques, contact our expert career advisors in Floyd County at 606-886-2948 to schedule an appointment to meet us in person.

Also, join us at the Floyd County Job Club, which brings together jobseekers like you and delivers these job search tips, hints, connections and networking opportunities in a peer-group setting in weekly local meetings.

The Floyd County Job Club meets each Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Prestonsburg offices of the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training (OET). Call 606-886-2948 for more information.