Question
Friday I was laid off from my employer of seven years. They unexpectedly filed for chapter 11 liquidation.
I live in a small city and would prefer not to move. I believe there are jobs here, but they are more with smaller firms, and are filled by word of mouth. There is a local “good old boy network” of people who went to school together at the state university and have worked together, but I am relatively new to the area and have had trouble tapping into this network.
How do I find these “word of mouth” jobs? How should I start my job search? How long should I expect to be unemployed? Which format of resume is most effective? Thank you.
Nick’s Reply
Ouch. Chapter 11. Sorry to hear it. I have no doubt the “good old boy network” controls a lot of the opportunities. It’s time to work your way into it.
The good old boy network
I couldn’t guess how long it might take you to find a new job, but I wouldn’t invest too much time figuring out what the “right” kind of resume is. Employers in smaller cities generally do indeed prefer word of mouth. Remember that, no matter what you call them, these insiders (“boys” and “girls”) know and trust one another. It’s how they ensure (in most cases) that they’re wasting as little time as possible when hiring good people to do the work. While they might miss out on some excellent “outsiders,” the good old boy network probably works pretty well given the relatively small business community.
Get inside
Here are some suggestions on how to “get in.”
- Live with the natives. Start spending social time where these people do, whether it’s at the local sports club or the local pub. The more interactive the setting, the better. If there’s a local professional association, join it. Mingle. Make friends. I know this takes time, but a year from now you’ll have new friends you can count on. Make the investment now. By the way, don’t be purely transactional about this. I can smell a “networker” a mile away. Keep it low-key, and you’ll get and keep the respect of the people you meet.
- Get introduced. You undoubtedly worked with some of these insiders at your last job. Don’t ask them for job leads. Ask them to lunch. Meet them at their new companies. Ask for a cook’s tour. Demonstrate your interest in the work they’re doing. Have lunch where they do and meet their friends. Don’t talk about a job; talk about the work you all do. That’s what will get their attention.
- Offer something of value. If one of these people is having trouble with a project at work, offer some good suggestions. Offer some articles you’ve saved. Loan a book. Heck, offer to help them: “I’ve got some time on my hands, and I love the work. Be glad to stop by and help you with that.” And leave it at that. Don’t expect a job. You’re making an investment that may or may not pay off. You get into a circle of people by making a contribution.
- Study with the natives. Find out where your local peers take continuing education, like the university you mentioned. Take a course with them. Get into a study group. Have coffee with them after class. Spend time with the instructor; I can almost guarantee you he or she knows management at the companies where you want to work. This is where you’ll learn what’s really up at the local companies.
- Use hidden references. Did you have some direct contact with vendors and customers at your old company? Some of them probably think a lot of you. Any one of them could refer you to one of their vendors or customers in the area. Call them. Ask for advice about this company or that company: “You know XYZ, Inc. pretty well because you deal with them. Is it a good place to work? Can you recommend someone there who can give me the lay of the land?”
Be careful not to go around asking for jobs or job leads. People get turned off by this because it puts a weight on their shoulders. It makes them feel responsible for you. Instead, ask for advice. Don’t expect much at first. But as you get closer to the center of things, you’ll become privy to the insider information that leads to a job. Just because jobs are controlled by a good old boy network doesn’t mean you can’t join the network.
Again, this can take some time. But remember that it’s time better spent than reading job postings, applying online and dealing with personnel jockeys because it keeps you directly in touch with the people you might be working with next week.
I wish you the best. For more tips about networking without the “ick” factor, please read How to Get A Job: Network? I don’t know anybody!
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Decades ago, I received some unsolicited advice that has since served me well many times over: become a local sports team fan. College or high school. Watch the games or at least track the scores, buy and wear the merch. The locals will ask you about it. It’s a good way to start a conversation that’s not about a job but can lead to talk about work.
@Toby: Well put! If you’re not making new friends and having fun, you’re not networking the right way. People tell me they won’t network because it’s “icky.” If it’s icky, you’re doing it wrong.
https://www.asktheheadhunter.com/11709/good-networking
It’s a tough lesson to learn but listen up boys and girls….
Channeling Harvey Mackay….
“ Dig your well before your are thirsty”
You have to do these activities the rest of your working life. I’m 65 and still do them, to stay in practice.
When you start digging when you are laid off, you are a year from finding water
Sorry about your sudden job loss.
Are there any conferences or professional events that you could attend? For my field, I know the big ones that everyone travels to every year, and smaller events closer to home. For other fields that might look like a meet-up, business development council, trade show or policy working group. Even better, look for a volunteer role. You will meet people while showing up as a contributor.
Do the State University academic departments for any relevant majors host a student showcase, thesis or presentation event? Sometimes they invite representatives from industry as judges or advisors. Often they’re open to the public, and the organizers are thrilled to have interest from local professionals. Watch for talks and guest events hosted by relevant clubs and departments.
@Meg: Exactly! Networking is a participation sport! The more you contribute the more you’ll enjoy it!
Adding to Nick’s advice to “live with the natives,” you might consider doing some volunteer work in your community. Even an hour or two a week spent stocking shelves at a food pantry or walking dogs at a rescue shelter can potentially yield valuable connections. Some of these “good old boys and girls” likely serve on the boards of directors at area nonprofits.
Agree with @GARP here.
Extending that suggestion even further, look for a nonprofit that can use the skills you’ve developed over time. Help them wholeheartedly.
Not only does this give you an activity where you can be successful (sudden job loss can mess with your head and shake your confidence), but nonprofits generally have a Board of Directors that will see your skills in action.
I’ve seen this lead to a job multiple times.
I do this. Only broke people and retirees doing this, the valuable connections are all at the private members only clubs you can’t get to or hidden away somewhere else.
Takes money to be broke.
Don’t know why the job seeker moved into “a quiet little town”, but when jobs are scarce, and require a lot of non0income time to obtain one, MOVE ON. The goal of an employee should not be family or friends, but financial gain. Bidness is bidness, not social welfare. There are no family or friends who will keep you afloat while you swim upstream in a rigged job market.
Every employee, or potential employee, is in the business of being a solution provider. Yes, it is a small business, but a business nonetheless; treat it so. Otherwise the job seeker is running from one beauty pageant to another, hoping someone else will choose them as the winning contestant.
Businesses do not look at employees as persons, colleagues, friends, or whatever. Businesses look at employees as tools-of-the-trade; interchangeable, and useful, until they are not useful. Job seekers should look at employers as potential/actual customers for the job seekers small business; nothing more, nor less.
“The Job Search; Make It Your Business”
Small town & a clique of a tight network on locals. like high school all over again.
It’s a good news/bad news scene. the poster pointed out a bad news view, being an outsider. But the good news is there’s a tight network and a clear target.
I agree with @Garp and @Annette. Get very active in the volunteer circuit where it’s highly likely you’re helping with causes near & dear to the hearts of those good ol boys.
I’d add to target venues would be the local library, which most likely is the only library. Patronized by only people from the town as well as people close to the good ol boys, who by he way quite likely sponsor library events.
And local hospitals are also a venue of interest.
And get to know your way around the Chamber of Commerce. Volunteer for helping them out on their events. If you have a strong business skill or business improvement ideas..volunteer to be a speaker. Some soul in the Chamber has the responsibility to come up with speakers. In a small town the well runs dry and fresh faces may be welcome.
in short, high visibility in a small community which you can promote by volunteering for the community says something “I’m not an outsider, I’m part of community. It takes years to lose the taint of being an outsider, but basking in the twilight of the insiders can be leveraged.
@Don: Volunteering to be a speaker makes you an instant expert and now you have credentials. I self-published my first book and volunteered to speak at a local Barnes & Noble. Because my book wasn’t in distribution (didn’t have an ISBN), B&N could not sell it! So they let me sell my book using my own cash box, right there in the store! A local biz newsweekly picked up the story and then I had even more credentials. Volunteer to be a speaker.
Toastmasters International
https://toastmasters.org/
I’m sorry that you’ve been laid off; the job market, depending upon your field, is brutal.
But all of the advice re networking is valid. Seven years is long enough to put down some roots, even if they’re not as deep as those of the “locals” who have been there their whole lives.
I know how tough it is in a small town, especially if it is very small and everyone has lived there for generations. After seven years, I hope you’ve made some friends or are at least acquaintances. If you’re married and have kids, then school events and activities are a great way to meet other parents (and network).
Try your public library, and if you live close to a larger town or city, try that public library (in case yours doesn’t offer programs, events, etc.).
Others have suggested volunteering, and maybe for some people that can turn into job opportunities, but my experience has been that many employers love volunteers (they get free labor), but they may never consider hiring you since you’ve been willing to work for free. The plus side to volunteering is that you’ll expand your network–maybe that employer won’t hire you, but maybe you’ll make connections with others who know people who know people, etc.
Don’t be afraid to let your family and friends know that you’re looking for work, as well as others–such as your doctor, your hairdresser, etc.
If you’re a member of a gym, and you’re friendly with other members, those people are also in your network, even if they don’t work in your field, because they might know of someone who is hiring…..
If you went to college, reach out to your fellow alumni, or even your alma mater itself. Their career services department may be able to connect you with other alums in your field or may even have employers who contact them with job openings.