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| Recruiting for Houston |
Be Honest About the Situation. Looking for a job as a trailing spouse means that you’ve made your spouse’s career the priority. Often this creates a dilemma about what to put in an application cover letter. Do you add, “We transferred here with my wife’s job,” hoping they don’t think you’ll leave if she gets transferred again? Other schools of thought figure admitting that is better than relocating without an explanation as to why you’re suddenly looking for a job in Houston when all of your experience has been elsewhere. Find the balance that makes you most comfortable and be prepared to answer questions about it in an interview.
Start Now. Don’t wait until you show up Houston to start looking. Start as soon as you agree to move and include details about your moving dates in your cover letter so recruiters don’t question your out-of-state current address. Many employers contact candidates by email initially but not always, so list your cell phone as a contact number because that most often comes with you instead of risking a number that will be disconnected.
As a trailing spouse, your life is being disrupted as well, so be proactive and make sure you are able to be happy and productive in your brand-new city.
PERSONNEL-PLACEMENT SERVICES
Many personnel-placement agencies are found throughout the Houston region, particularly in active business districts. These agencies typically place candidates in full- or part-time assignments that can be short-term contracts that might turn into a permanent position.
Typically, personnel-placement agencies charge the company looking for workers, but some may take a percentage of your wage in that position; however, you should never have to pay any agency in advance of employment. Make sure to ask each agency how it operates before deciding to go forward with it. Once you get a job, generally you are paid weekly by the agency and not by the company where you work.
If you decide to work with an agency, do preliminary research online to determine in what industries—such as oil and gas—that the agency primarily works. If it’s not clear from the website, call and find out. The more targeted you make your search, the better chance you have of getting a good placement that can lead to full-time employment. You also can apply with several different agencies simultaneously to widen your search, especially if you have skills applicable across industries. Also make sure you stay in contact with the agencies to find out what jobs are coming up or might be available.
Going with a personnel-placement agency put a lot of networking resources at your fingertips while removing a lot of the searching groundwork from your plate.
JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS
Perhaps you are in a situation in which you haven’t worked for a while but plan to do so in your new city once you move to the area. Sometimes this means your credentials or experience on your resume might be out of date. If that is the case, consider seeking out a job-training program either in your current location or in Houston to revive your skillset or build a new one so you can make the most of your career opportunities in your new city. Following are a few resources in Houston that can help you make your decision if this is the right path for you.
First of all, many of the online job-search sites can be helpful in searching out positions that include paid on-the-job training upon your hiring. Sites like Monster.com, Indeed.com and Careerbuilder.com can provide a start for this with a search of “Pain Training” and your new location. This kind of search will bring up careers in many different fields, so it might be a good option if you’re looking for a new career but just not sure what options you have for a new and exciting path.
A statewide resource for job training can be found with the Texas Workforce Commission (www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/training-education). This site is the portal for a state-run agency that specifically helps job seekers find education opportunities, occupational and vocational training and rehabilitation and a number of other pertinent resources that can develop your working skills. The site offers links to local Workforce Solutions offices (found by ZIP code) that can provide an array of job posting and placement services, up-to-date information about the labor market and trends in occupations, recruiting, retention and training assistance and tax and hiring incentives. The Texas Workforce Commission also offers resources for adult learners to transition to postsecondary education, training and employment as well as apprenticeship training opportunities through a variety of methods and resources.
The Houston Community College (HCC) System is the city’s leading vehicle for ongoing training and business development. With five regional colleges, HCC offers quality, cost-effective training programs conveniently located throughout the Houston area. At its 13 Centers of Excellence, HCC pairs top-notch faculty intimate with industry best practices with eager learners who desire acquiring the skills for a successful career in anything from accounting and the health sciences to welding and auto maintenance to fashion design and the performing arts. HCC staff members also often work with hiring companies to customize training programs that meet its specific employment needs and conduct classes onsite. The HCC Workforce Development Division oversees 67 degree and certificate programs, including accounting, biotechnology, computer science technology, international business and real estate.
Start Now. Don’t wait until you show up Houston to start looking. Start as soon as you agree to move and include details about your moving dates in your cover letter so recruiters don’t question your out-of-state current address. Many employers contact candidates by email initially but not always, so list your cell phone as a contact number because that most often comes with you instead of risking a number that will be disconnected.
As a trailing spouse, your life is being disrupted as well, so be proactive and make sure you are able to be happy and productive in your brand-new city.
PERSONNEL-PLACEMENT SERVICES
Many personnel-placement agencies are found throughout the Houston region, particularly in active business districts. These agencies typically place candidates in full- or part-time assignments that can be short-term contracts that might turn into a permanent position.
Typically, personnel-placement agencies charge the company looking for workers, but some may take a percentage of your wage in that position; however, you should never have to pay any agency in advance of employment. Make sure to ask each agency how it operates before deciding to go forward with it. Once you get a job, generally you are paid weekly by the agency and not by the company where you work.
If you decide to work with an agency, do preliminary research online to determine in what industries—such as oil and gas—that the agency primarily works. If it’s not clear from the website, call and find out. The more targeted you make your search, the better chance you have of getting a good placement that can lead to full-time employment. You also can apply with several different agencies simultaneously to widen your search, especially if you have skills applicable across industries. Also make sure you stay in contact with the agencies to find out what jobs are coming up or might be available.
Going with a personnel-placement agency put a lot of networking resources at your fingertips while removing a lot of the searching groundwork from your plate.
JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS
Perhaps you are in a situation in which you haven’t worked for a while but plan to do so in your new city once you move to the area. Sometimes this means your credentials or experience on your resume might be out of date. If that is the case, consider seeking out a job-training program either in your current location or in Houston to revive your skillset or build a new one so you can make the most of your career opportunities in your new city. Following are a few resources in Houston that can help you make your decision if this is the right path for you.
First of all, many of the online job-search sites can be helpful in searching out positions that include paid on-the-job training upon your hiring. Sites like Monster.com, Indeed.com and Careerbuilder.com can provide a start for this with a search of “Pain Training” and your new location. This kind of search will bring up careers in many different fields, so it might be a good option if you’re looking for a new career but just not sure what options you have for a new and exciting path.
A statewide resource for job training can be found with the Texas Workforce Commission (www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/training-education). This site is the portal for a state-run agency that specifically helps job seekers find education opportunities, occupational and vocational training and rehabilitation and a number of other pertinent resources that can develop your working skills. The site offers links to local Workforce Solutions offices (found by ZIP code) that can provide an array of job posting and placement services, up-to-date information about the labor market and trends in occupations, recruiting, retention and training assistance and tax and hiring incentives. The Texas Workforce Commission also offers resources for adult learners to transition to postsecondary education, training and employment as well as apprenticeship training opportunities through a variety of methods and resources.
The Houston Community College (HCC) System is the city’s leading vehicle for ongoing training and business development. With five regional colleges, HCC offers quality, cost-effective training programs conveniently located throughout the Houston area. At its 13 Centers of Excellence, HCC pairs top-notch faculty intimate with industry best practices with eager learners who desire acquiring the skills for a successful career in anything from accounting and the health sciences to welding and auto maintenance to fashion design and the performing arts. HCC staff members also often work with hiring companies to customize training programs that meet its specific employment needs and conduct classes onsite. The HCC Workforce Development Division oversees 67 degree and certificate programs, including accounting, biotechnology, computer science technology, international business and real estate.
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