Give your typing fingers a job board break. "Old-fashioned" ways may open networking and occupational opportunities with new and long-standing Georgia businesses off line.
Who knows? These seven unconventional — and rather throwback — sources for landing your next profession could become career keys to job search success.
Don't count out flipping through the phone book for employment leads. From Atlanta's services to attractions, the Yellow Pages provides plenty of potential occupations to explore for temporary, part-time and full-time positions. And if you insist on using it online, you can download The Real Yellow Pages' local search app for smartphones and iPad.
Grandma's address book
Hear me out. Grandparents know people who know people. Start with A and thumb down their little black book of random contacts to Z, asking who these folks are. Their old colleagues perhaps still have company connections and insight into the best recruitment seasons and gatekeeper tips of value.
Office drop-ins
Know exactly who you want to work for? Dress the part, then go in to show your face. Make sure to arrive upbeat, with enough knowledge about the brand and a portfolio package to leave with the company. If you have creatively designed personal business cards on hand, leave two — one for the company to keep and one to lose.
Happy hour
Believe it or not, restaurant bars are useful locations to build business relationships and learn who's hiring and firing in your area. Business professionals frequent taverns and sports bars like The Vortex and Applebee's to wind down. A simple conversation about sports could segue into a job reference.
School registration day
All parents of school-age kids have to brave that day of registration paperwork overload. While sharing a cafeteria table with other parents you know, ask if anyone is familiar with job openings in tune with their children's school schedule. If the conversation becomes a dead-end discussion, visit the Board of Education to learn what educational positions are potentially available throughout the academic year.
Church functions
Prayer groups, parish yard sales and pastor anniversaries serve as bonding moments with congregation members and natural networking events. Sharing your career goals among those who you enjoy worshipping alongside might move members to help with resume building, job leads and potential employment in and outside the church.
Family reunions
A distance cousin or retired aunt and uncle could become the breakthrough needed to land a position simply by asking. Capitalize on casual conversations about today's job market during the family's banquet or barbecue to see who's career connected and who's not.
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