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Making the Most of Your Local Job Search in Columbia, South Carolina
Did you know that over two-thirds of America's vacant jobs are never advertised? Have you ever thought about reaching out to potential employers, but NOT as a job applicant?Professional and industry associations and societies are usually plentiful and very useful for job seekers. They can also help you in more traditional situations when you're able to add the association's name to your resume. For example, Columbia has an active Society for Human Resource Management Chapter. Let's say a local company was interested in hiring a human resource manager and preferred someone who was involved with the Columbia SHRM chapter. Your membership in the chapter may just be the involvement a company is looking for.
Seven out of 10 people in the U.S.A. belong to at least 1 organization or association, and 25% are members of 4 or more!
So, professional and industry associations and societies are great places to make connections to your next job! Columbia has a local Paralegals Association which was formed in 1988 under the name of Columbia Legal Assistant Association. With over 200 members, it's also a great way to connect with local employers at law firms, government agencies and private businesses here in Columbia.
The following is a list of some local associations that might be helpful in your job search:
- South Carolina Society of Accountants
International Association of Administrative Professionals
The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is the world's largest association for administrative support staff. They offer some outstanding seminars and conferences and have some top-notch resources to help administrative professionals enhance their skills.
Tip: Don't forget your local chamber can be a great resource. Greater Columbia's Chamber of Commerce has a website with a comprehensive directory of businesses.
Columbia SC Chamber of Commerce
Research is your first step in ferreting out job openings. And since almost everyone gets a daily newspaper, why not start there? But don't spend all your time on want ads.
For example if you open The State Newspaper and read the headline "Two Stores Moving to Forest Drive" you could safely assume they'll need employees. Dig a little deeper and you'll read "Craft store Hobby Lobby and discount retailer A.J. Wright are leasing 85,000 square feet between Wal-Mart Supercenter and Sam's Club on Forest Drive." This means they'll be hiring new personnel perhaps right in your local neighborhood.
By making a few phone calls to both corporate companies, you an easily find out who the direct hiring contact will be for the new Columbia retailers. Your best bet is to send a cover letter and resume directly to the person who is responsible for hiring new staff!
Two more ways to use the newspaper to uncover expanding businesses:
- Monitor the business section for firms signing new commercial leases, a sure sign of a need for increased capacity.
Look for companies receiving venture capital -- since it's so difficult to get these days, such firms are likely to have a viable business model...and a need for new employees.
Temporary agencies can open the door to a wider range of jobs than you think. They're not limited to office support or light factory work.
Many savvy employers use temporary agencies as a screening device. It's a chance to put temp workers through a trial period. And, if the employee is talented enough, a job can be created just for them.
It's not uncommon for companies to draw 30-50% of their staff from the temporary work force. Columbia has many agencies that specialize in a variety of industries from administrative to food service.
Just visit www.google.com, search for 'temporary jobs in Columbia SC,' and you'll find a huge number of agency listings.
And believe it or not, the library has a great resource that very few people utilize in their job search. Columbia has librarians that are specifically trained to help you with your internet searches.
Both Lexington and Richland County have links to their sites that provide a wealth of information.
Lexington County Public Library System
Richland County Public Library
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