Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 17 Newspapers (or Craigslist)

Newspapers (or Craigslist)

If you know that I’m not very fond of job boards as a job search resource, then you must be really surprised that I would talk about newspapers or even Craigslist in a series about the fastest way to find a job. I’m sure you assume that I think newspapers belong to the Dark Ages and Craigslist is just the online version of classified ads. Which it is…but bear with me.

Newspapers are less relevant for the job search than they used to be (poring over the classifieds used to be THE way to find a job), but don’t count them out yet. Companies still post job listings in newspapers, and you’ll also find information about career fairs or job fairs that could be useful to you.

The way newspapers are especially relevant to your job search today is through the news stories. Keep an eye on the headlines for news of expansions, acquisitions, or other growth opportunities in companies. Growth usually means hiring.

If you find that a company is getting ready to expand, build a new facility, move into a new area, or whatever, that’s your cue to find out more about that company and how you might get your foot in the door. Do your research and find the hiring manager in the area you’d work and contact that person. If you’re lucky, you’ll find it in the newspaper article itself. If not, you’ll have to work a little harder. But that’s why they invented Google and LinkedIn. The hiring manager you eventually contact will appreciate your initiative, and probably be impressed that you were keeping up that closely with their company.

I recently read a really good business review out of Fort Worth and if I were looking for a job in Fort Worth, I would be reading this whole thing from front to back. It talks about who’s moved into what positions, who’s hiring…it’s just stuffed with great information. You should be able to find a similar resource where you live. It’s just business news.

Now, on to Craigslist. There are a lot of jobs posted on Craigslist, but you do have to be careful with it. If the company doesn’t publish their name in the ad, don’t assume that they’re a Craigslist Killer, but you do need to ask them to divulge their name before you give them any information.

I’ve actually hired someone through Craigslist myself. I did not publish the name of my company because I didn’t want that total exposure of my company’s name along with the fact that we were looking for this type of person. But, when the candidate called me and began that conversation, told me a little about themselves and then asked for the name of the company before we went any further, I was more than happy to tell them. At that point, it was relevant. Before, it would have just been unnecessary exposure.

If it’s a real company, they will be happy to tell you who they are when you call.

Newspapers and Craigslist would not be my first plan of attack in a job search, of course, but I do believe in maximizing your efforts and opportunities. They are a resource. Jobs are listed, and companies make the news, so spend a little time checking them out. Not a lot, but a little.