It’s rodeo time, and 2,000,000+ people are getting ready and saddling up!
People travel far and wide, from parts unknown, to see the spectacle that we Houstonians experience once a year. Since the ‘50s, Trail Riders have migrated to Memorial Park to attend and participate in the Rodeo parade leading up to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Just as the Trail Riders journey in for this event, job seekers come from all over to partake in job opportunities here in the Gulf Coast Region.
As students are scrambling for calves, new graduates are scrambling for jobs, and when those Master Grillers are looking to earn a place in the cook-off, someone is looking to earn a place in the workforce.
In all of these instances, individuals use networking as a tool to get what/where they want. When networking for jobs, there are two key things to keep in mind:
- Know what you want.
- Know the companies that have it.
There are over 120,000 companies in the Houston area. How do you know which one to work for?
There’s a lot of information available to keep you well-versed and knowledgeable about regional industries, companies and occupations. If you’re uncertain about where to begin your research, start with a company’s website.
Once you’ve identified a target company and visited their website, look for things like growth opportunities, long-term prospects, diversity, debt, company culture and management style. Who knows… You may find out that the company you’ve always wanted to work for is the worst choice imaginable.
Social networks such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter are great research tools to use from the comfort of your own home to both network and research different opportunities. After spending a morning calling your contacts or meeting with them over coffee, you can lie on the couch and gain industry knowledge while binge-watching Netflix!
If you’re not a morning person, you can do the exact same thing in reverse. Here are a few tips to remember about social media:
- On Facebook, join groups focused on your target goal.
- On Twitter, search (#) hashtags specific to your target goal.
- On Linkedin, join groups and subscribe to posts related to your target goal.
I may have oversimplified it, but this is a good starting point on your path to landing that job you’ve always dreamed about!
Rodeo time is a great time of year to begin your job search. Use resources available to plan and research. Workforce Solutions provides everything you need to do that research.
The Master Griller that wins first place at “World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest” uses all of right tools, ingredients and equipment to lock in his prize. You should do the same. Giddy up!
Diego Trevino is a Regional Facilitator for Workforce Solutions in the Houston – Galveston area. Before joining the regional team, he served as a greeter, employment counselor and staffing specialist. Earlier in his career he traveled to South Korea where he taught students English. He uses past teaching experiences and present workforce knowledge to conduct job skills seminars throughout the 13 county Gulf Coast Region.
blogforce.wrksolutions.com 
Rodeo time is here and it is indeed a great opportunity for networking but if you are in the market for new employment, this is probably the worst time to begin your search. I relate it back to my time as a military recruiter; the enlistment process never stops, but when you take graduation time and compare it to the rodeo….there are just some things that students/employers are slightly more interested in than you. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to promote yourself, remember you are ALWAYS interviewing and always closing the deal. That applies to walking around on the rodeo fairgrounds or walking into a Fortune 500 company to ask if “they’re hiring”. Know your target, research it and always be prepared for an interview.