| 504ward’s Tips on Finding a Job in New Orleans |
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We here at 504ward know you’ve probably gotten ten thousand tips on getting a job in your life. Your dad telling you to wear a tie for the love of Pete, your mom telling you to “just be yourself, my little pumpkin”, etc. etc… But after hours of dogged investigatory journalism, we’ve come up with some things that really might help you find that job in town.
1. It’s all about informational interviews. You need to get the lay of the land here in New Orleans, and blindly asking for jobs is a rough road to follow. Email different people introducing yourself, then follow up that email and send your resume. Don’t ask for a job, instead ask what/where people think you should be pursuing. 3. Be prepared to lead the conversation. Come with questions. You’re taking up someone’s time; don’t make them carry the conversation. 4. Write thank you notes by email and by handwritten letter. The handwritten letter worked when your grandma gave you fifty bucks for your birthday, and it’s going to work here. It shows people you care, and it gives people something to remember you by. 5. On your résumé, put a New Orleans address. Employers want to see that you’re here and committed to the city. 6. Volunteer. It’ll get you connected to the city, you’ll meet people, and it’ll show people you’re committed to the future of New Orleans. Also, if a potential employer asks what you’ve been doing with your time, “volunteering” is a better answer than “eating Fruit Loops three meals a day and watching Top Chef marathons.” 7. Get out of the house. Not every job is posted online. Plus, the more people see your face around the city, the more you’ll enter discussions when positions open. Networking events, concerts, fundraisers—make yourself a known commodity around the city. 8. If you’re willing to work for free for a short period of time, you’re more likely to get hired for a long period of time. 9. Lastly, obviously: fix up look sharp. New Orleans is a business casual kind of town, but you should overdress to meet potential employers. Show them you take this seriously, and they will take you seriously. |
2. Know what you want to do. Or, at least, be able to make something up. Informational interviews are great, but at a certain point on this crazy job-finding journey someone is going to look you in the eye and ask what you want to do with your life. You need an answer.
