Ways To Find Local Jobs

This article is from Indeed. View their article at the bottom.

Why is knowing how to find local jobs important?

Whether you want to find an open position within your current geographical area or you are looking to relocate to a new area, knowing where to look for local jobs is an important skill.

Narrowing your job search to a specific geographical area can improve your chances of finding a suitable position and being selected for the role following an interview. There’s a high number of available positions on the job market, and rather than searching through every possible option, you can save time by being efficient with your location filtering. Proper research will also help you better understand the local job market and the companies you apply to, which can help you during the interview process.

Related: Effective Job Search Tools to Get You a Job

12 ways to find local jobs

Consider these methods when looking for local jobs:

Use online job search engines

Modern job search engines allow users to fully customize their search, including filtering jobs based on city, state and ZIP code. If you are open to commuting, you can also search for jobs within a predefined radius from the specific area you are interested in. Another useful function is the job alert, which sends you a message when companies post jobs on the website that fit your pre-selected criteria.

Examine the classifieds

The classifieds sections of local newspapers are also good places to find local job listings. Many small and medium-sized local companies prefer to advertise locally, meaning that you may find certain jobs in these ads that aren’t advertised anywhere else. Most local papers also have online versions, so you won’t need to buy physical copies. This method of finding local jobs works best if you search every day over a prolonged period of time because companies post new openings every day.

Related: 9 Job Search Strategies to Help You Find Your Dream Job

Use local employment resources

Many jobs are advertised locally through various resources, such as the local chamber of commerce. If the company that advertises the job ad is a member of a local chamber, they will likely post the opportunity on the chamber’s website before adding it anywhere else. Local websites like this are a great tool for finding jobs within a specific area.

Research local companies

You can use local company directories to discover potentially attractive organizations and then inquire regarding open positions. This will help you better understand the local job market and give you the image of a proactive job seeker.

Follow local news

If you’re constantly up to date with the latest events surrounding the local business community, you’re more likely to discover job openings. By following business news, you will know about any new organizations moving into your area as well as any expansions and downsizes. Any of these organizational changes can lead to new job openings. Following local news will also help you identify the most important companies in the area, which often have the most employees.

Join local online message boards

Community message boards are a great way to keep up to date with relevant events within a geographical area. Small and medium-sized enterprises may also use these message boards to ask the community for recommendations after they’ve decided to hire new personnel. Researching online message boards on a daily basis is likely to help you find local job opportunities.

Visit local career fairs

Most areas have regular career fairs, and they are a great way to help you understand the nature of the local job market. These fairs represent a unique opportunity to get a group of potential employers from an area in the same building, allowing you to directly compare what they have to offer and introduce yourself to hiring managers.

Use your network

Discussing your job search with your connections can be an efficient way to find local jobs. Make a list of all your contacts that work within the specific area that interests you, and inquire regarding any job openings at the companies they work for. Someone may know that their company is hiring for a particular position, or they may have heard about a position opening up in the near future.

Apply to all companies that interest you

Look up local companies that you would like to work for, and send their HR departments a direct email. Even companies that don’t have any advertised open positions may be interested in you, but you won’t know whether they are until you reach out. For example, they might be expanding and constantly looking for new talent, or they could be about to post a relevant job opening.

Hire a local career counselor

Career counselors have extensive knowledge regarding the local job market, the kinds of roles that are currently available and the expectations of local companies. They can help you research the right positions and assist you as you work on your skills. Their goal is to help you improve your odds of being selected for relevant roles.

Related: What Is a Job Coach?

Follow local companies and people on social media

Following local employers on social media is an effective job search resource. You can also join public conversations that involve company employers and management in order to cultivate a relationship with the companies and get a better understanding of their company culture. Just remember not to post anything on social media that could be viewed as controversial—even if it doesn’t have to do with your job search—because it could affect your odds of being considered for open positions.

Visit the local library

Visiting the library or accessing its website can reveal many job searching tools, such as educational materials, classes, programs and more. Libraries also provide computers with internet access that are available to visitors. You might even be able to discover job search workshops and job clubs that can offer you advice and help you discover local jobs that suit your skill set.

“12 Ways to Find Local Jobs.” Indeed Career Guide, 22 Feb. 2021, https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/find-local-jobs.