Using Your Newspaper to Detect Job Leads

Everyday your newspaper is filled with information which, if used properly can help you find new employment opportunities before they area advertised in the job section.

Watch for:

• Stories about products or services in great demand. The corporations represented in these articles may need to expand their workforce. An early inquiry from an appropriate applicant could result in a job offer.
  
• Current developments in an industry or occupation. Although technical breakthroughs and trends may not directly stimulate a job lead, by knowing what's new you can create an impression of being an aware individual during job interviews.
  
• Terminations, resignations and retirement announcements. When somebody goes out of a job, somebody usually goes in, and the vacancy may be filled from outside the organization. If the job is filled internally, there is still a vacancy i.e. a V.P. of Finance position filled by a Controller will leave a vacant controller's position.
  
• Reports of promotions and job changes. Such situations may cause a ripple effect that results in reorganizations and new job openings.
  
• New patents and discoveries. Many large departments - and even whole corporations - have developed from inventions.
  
• Contract awards. Often companies must mount large recruiting drives to take aboard enough personnel after receiving a contract to meet the production deadlines.
  
• Significant happenings and major events. Opportunities for entrepreneurial endeavors are prevalent when significant events such as World Fairs or the Olympics take place. (Even large local fairs offer opportunities to talk to corporate representatives about possible job openings in their companies.)
  
• Dedication of a new plant or facility. Companies prefer to filled jobs locally and the right internal candidates are not always willing to transfer.
  
• Increased sales and earnings reports. Healthy corporations often wish to take advantage of their momentum and could be inclined to add to their present workforce.
  
• Moving of a corporate headquarters. It isn't unusual to have several important positions open up a reorganizations may accompany the movers and it's unlikely that every employee will want to switch locations.
  
• Acquisitions and mergers. Although such developments normally result in an excess of employees and redundancy of jobs, the "fall out".may be golden opportunities to some job seekers who know how to seize opportunities.
  
• Stock underwritings of new and developing companies. Jobs that previously had bee placed on "hold" status may now be filled because funds are available to support them.

The possibilities are almost endless for the job seeker who is willing to look beyond the headlines. Articles on meeting speakers, award winners and career overviews can supply substantial leads for networking activities. This method of job development is especially important to those at senior and executive levels who do not encounter a large number of advertised job prospects.

List prepared by Jack Erdlan, Chairman of Costello, Erdlen & Company, a human resources consulting firm in Wellesley, Mass.