By Ryan Chaffin
Many people dislike paying the fuel costs and taking the time to make a distant commute to work. But, the recent economy has made finding a job near home more of a luxury than a viable option. If you’re looking to beat the competition and land that great position in your neighborhood, these steps can help.
1. Research
Find the most common industries that are hiring near your area. This might be different according to the region you live in. For example, you might find a different set of opportunities in San Jose, California, than you would in the hills of Eastern Kentucky.
Many job-search websites exist to help you in your research. Popular job-posting site Indeed.com compiles data based on job postings to come up with some interesting statistics. For example, in July 2010, San Jose, California, had the highest rate of job postings per capita, with 132 job postings per 1000 people. Washington, D.C. came in second with 129. Taking a look at what’s being posted can give you a sense how best you can prepare to land a position.
2. Match job openings with your interests and skills.
If you live in a residential or suburban area, nearby jobs will likely be in the service and food industries. If you like working with people, this could be where you fit in.
Restaurants, clubs, and bars are common in both urban and residential areas and open many employment opportunities. If you’re looking for a position that is both challenging and highly social, becoming a bartender might be a great choice, especially if you’re close to nightlife. For someone who likes bartending in Dallas, the city has a busy downtown scene and, therefore, opportunities for aspiring bartenders.
3. Gain the upper hand with the right training
To become competitive for those coveted job openings nearby, gaining additional training might be an effective path. Lots of great resources exist to further your education while staying local. Community colleges are a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to get a certification or two-year degree. Trade or vocational schools can also give you specialized skills.
Whether you want to save on time, money, or just want to do your part in keeping the environment clean, working close to home can bring many benefits to your life. If you’re ready to ditch the long drive, there might be more work options nearby that meet the eye.
About Ryan Chaffin
Ryan Chaffin is currently a college student majoring in Business Marketing. He loves anything technology, internet, and social media related along with sports and health & wellness. Ryan currently specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), blogging, and social media and believes in achieving your fullest potential on and off the web. You can also find Ryan on Twitter (@ryanchaffin).
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Woah this blog is fantastic i like reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You already know, lots of persons are searching round for this information, you could help them greatly.
One of your best resources is LinkedIn. Try and find connections to people that work at that organization. Then ask your contacts for an introduction and do an informational interview with them.