Clarification/Follow-up by netto on 09/22/03 2:48 pm:
Hi again. Thank you again for replying.

I hear what your'e saying about the quantity of my futile effort so far, but the jobs simply aren't there. I mean, I search many job sites and get notification emails every day that I go through carefully to find opportunities.

I go through the local newspaper - every single ad - to see if I fit any of them, even closely.

I know last time you said to research a company, find a problem, and write it up as a proposal that you can help fix, but the thing is, there simply isn't the kind of information out there that you're talking about.

I spent at least 20 hours searching for customer feedback or some weakness in the products and/or process of 2 of the largest area employers, and found nothing substantial.

As far as talking to exiting customers, it's impossible to find them.

I appreciate all of your advice, but it's all very (What Color is your) Parachute-ish. Nice in theory, sounds great, but really only works on late night infomercials.

I'm spending way more than 3 hours a week on the process.

It took at least 10 hours of searching just to find the list of the area's largest employers, and already I've gotten 5 back as undeliverable. It was a 2003 list!

For my skills, I skill I know I have is writing - although it may not show well here.

But so what. Most people don't care much about good writing. It's just a necessary evil. Unless we're talking marketing communications or public relations maybe, but both have bottom-line results, and employers looking for these types want experience, period.

I have none. The job I was interviewed for did have PR as part of the job, so I wrote a sample press release and emailed it to them after the interview. During the interview they revealed some cool stats that they never told anyone about. They hadn't even posted it on their Web site.

I figured the press release would impress them. It didn't. At least not enough to even call me to tell me I didn't get the job.

I had to call them, and the guy was all awkward about it. Dumb ass.

Sorry if I seem angry with you. I'm not. Just with the market and the distance.

I'm wondering how many jobs I would've been called in for if I was local. With 50-100 other people living right there applying, there isn't much need for me.

After all, what if I get there and don't like the area and move, the company is stuck.

What if it takes me longer than the time I tell them it will take me to get there full-time. They need someone definite.

I don't know what other effort to make.

I will try 'researching' one more company that I have in mind. But even if I find something material, the chances of finding the name of the manager who would care, let alone would be interested in meeting with me, is slim to none.

Let's be honest, in this economy people are covering their butts. They're not looking to add more overhead.

IF anything came of my suggestion at all, in today's world, I'll get offered a 6 month consultant contract to implement what I suggested, and then back to square 1.

Damn industrialism.

Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 09/23/03 12:25 am:
You may be asking for the impossible.

Remember, no company is in business to create a job that is just perfect for your needs.

If you are striking out at the large employer level, move down a tier or two. There is probably less competition, and statistics show that the most jobs are created within smaller companies.

If writing is your strong suit, figure out who needs writing. Find a 20-40 employee company with a web site that sucks, and propose becoming the content guru for it.

If you're serious about PR, you may have to pay some dues as an intern in a PR agency. This would allow you develop a decent portfolio and learn a lot of skills.

Consider doing something that involves sales. This might equip you to develop skills in writing sales and promotional copy, which is probably the best-paying gig for a writer. Perhaps you can find a spot in sales support, writing system proposals for a major vendor.

I still commend to you the two exercises I mentioned.

Clarification/Follow-up by netto on 09/23/03 8:54 am:
Thanks again for replying.

I really appreciate your help, and will try the exercises you've mentioned.

Okay, so to move down a tier or two in company size...any idea where I find them?

It seemed to take forever to find the list of the top 100 employers in the area, and got it only because I happened upon someone in a discussion forum who just moved to the area and went to library, made photo copies of them, and mailed them to me.

Are there lists of smaller companies somewhere?

Clarification/Follow-up by voiceguy2000 on 09/23/03 9:39 am:
It may take some shrewd thinking to find these smaller companies at a distance. Here are some places I would try if I were working on it:

    o Associations. Check to see if there are any chambers of commerce covering your target area. These often have a list of members. Also, there may be more specialized associations, such as a Manufacturers and Merchants Association, or a Downtown Club, or a Sales and Marketing Association. If there is a local chapter of the SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), you might be able to get a list of members, and view the companies represented there. (I am not suggesting that you contact those actual members, for the reasons previously stated.)

    o Government Entities. A lot of cities and regional areas have Economic Development offices. Their job is to attract business to the area. They may have all kinds of helptul listings. Also, check to see whether there is a Small Business Administration office nearby; possibly the people there could help. In cities that require business licenses, there may be a way to view a list of licensees.

    o Colleges and Trade Schools. Many educational institutions have student placement offices. If there are any close to you, it might be worthwhile to pay a visit and see what kinds of resources are available. It may be more difficult to deal with an office of this kind in the distant location, but that is a second possibility.

    o Your Local Library Rather than relying on someone else's list, you might pay a visit to the reference librarian at the main branch of a library near you, and see what is available. There are companies, for example, that compile large databases of companies and make them available on CD-ROM, and many libraries carry these.

    o Sales Organization in the Area. If you have the gift of gab, you might be able to get some good leads from a company that sells a commonly-used product line into your target area. Office supplies would be one such category. If you could befriend someone at the local Boise Cascade office, they could probably give you the rundown on what's happening in the area -- who is growing, who is shrinking, what industries and areas seem to be doing well or not.

    o City Business Journal. Many cities have a local Business Journal that comes out weekly. (Here in Los Angeles, for example, we have the Los Angeles Business Journal.) These tend to have lots of information about local businesses, including a page or two of short items announcing hirings and promotions in local businesses. It is a good source of leads. You might also check the Business section of the leading metropolitan daily in the area.

Hope these ideas will help. Good luck.

Clarification/Follow-up by netto on 09/24/03 9:11 am:
Insurance sales? Can you really make money doing that?

I read that some magazine rated Edward Jones brokerage is one of the best places to work, but basically you're on your own setting up an investments office.

I know nothing about the investment or insurance industries but I would like to learn.

Working on your own, though, can be tough.

The cost of private health insurance for you and your family is insane. So you're working 75 hours a week to pay for insurance and say you work for yourself, all the while effectively making less than if you worked for a company.

Sure, there are many exceptions to that, but the percentage of those vs. those who go into their own business and fail, is very small.

I'd like to do business writing/copywriting as a consultant, but then I need not only health insurance for me and my family, but I need liability insurance too.

Working for yourself not only means doing all the work, but also ALWAYS looking for a job.

I don't know. I'm very confused on what to do.

I do appreciate what you're suggesting, and you're right about when there's a will there's a way.

Problem is when there's a wife there's a limit on what you can sacrifice.

I'm making decent money in a 40 hour job (although I know this isn't where I belong or was meant to do). It's a hard sell to go from decent to the completely unknown...$0 for how long until you find a job as an independent?...how long until you can afford your rent or mortgage?

Landing that next customer's job isn't going to help a week after your eviction notice.

I just want to scream.

Clarification/Follow-up by wvseagull on 09/24/03 10:01 am:
Netto, let me be brutally honest with you. No sugar coating. If you can't handle the truth, stop reading this right now.

You simply cannot have your cake and eat it too. You want to move, but you want security also. You seem to fear the unknown. If you REALLY want to move, and your wife MUST be a party to this, then pack up your stuff in a Ryder truck, and go. It is almost impossible to find a job from 400 miles away that is meaningful, unless you are capable of competing in the CEO/CFO world.

There is a guy on talk radio, named Bruce Williams, who is a millionare, and is very intelligent. He is ususally on in the evening around 8 or so. Try to find him on your AM radio. Anyway, he maintains, and I totally agree with him, that someone with drive and ambition can move to a new city, and just by mowing grass, doing odd jobs, delivering stuff, and generally hustling, can make $40K a year. Are you making that now?

As for insurance sales, go see someone at MONY, New York Life, or Prudential and see what they have to offer, WHERE YOU ARE NOW. If this appeals to you, then move to your new location, talk to the company there, and get your license, and make some money. If you need more help with this, ask me in a separate, direct question. (It is, in my opinion, easier to find life insurance clients than it is to find companies to consult for.) How much life insurance do YOU have? (Ask one of the life insurance people about Joe Gudalpho-not positive of spelling)

In any case, decide on what is most important to you, discuss it with your wife, and get started.