I hear the complaints all the time:
“There are no jobs in Buffalo.”
“There are no opportunities in Buffalo.”
“I’m moving to Raleigh/Charlotte/Richmond/Atlanta/Tampa/Austin/Seattle/San Francisco… because there are jobs there.”
Folks, there are opportunities here, but you have to be willing to actually grab one and make it work. I just did a Google search on “Business Opportunities Buffalo NY” and found 433,000 results. How many times has this phrase been searched globally in the last month?
110 times.
A search for “employment agencies buffalo ny” offers 3,290,000 results. How many times has that been searched in the last month?
1300 times.
A search for “business networking groups buffalo ny” – because, if you’re looking for a job, why not go to where the businesses are, right? This yields 316,000 results. How many times has this been searched in the last month?
Zero. Well, one now, because I did it.
Are people giving this an honest effort or standing with a bucket in the desert hoping a drink of water will fall into it for them? We do not exist in a simplified economy where people simply get hired because they look good on paper. And while it is still true that the majority of hires result from direct contact with people, it is forgotten that BUILDING YOUR NETWORK results in more direct contacts with people.
The best of Buffalo isn't lost in the past - it is our future to create. But it is up to the people to want to create it!
Get out there and FIND opportunities if you’re looking for one – they exist. Honestly, they do but everything requires effort. Get together with employment resources; they’re out there. Start with the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Development Consortium and the ECC Employment One-Stop. These organizations can help you get prepared for your job search, provide you with additional resources and skills including some basic computer and Microsoft Office training, and even find government programs to help make you more attractive to employers.
Get your résumé out to staffing agencies. There are dozens of them in the Buffalo area. A good place to start would be to speak to our friends Andrea Todaro and Dale Martin at WNY@Work – both are experts in networking, job searching and making the connections that open up opportunities.
Even more importantly: be direct. Find out where businesses meet – there are meetings everywhere, every morning and plenty in the evening, too. Go shake some hands, get your résumé out to these business people directly and let them get to know you. It is the kind of action that can make a huge difference in your job search when you make yourself stand out to the people looking for outstanding employees!
After all, what is easier – a focused, dedicated job search or packing and unpacking a moving truck?
