How to Beat the Competitive Houston Job Market

I don't know about the rest of the world, but Houston has become a seriously competitive job market. There are literally hundreds of people campaigning for each position advertised in the Chronicle, and job seekers who have little experience or education are in a nasty situation. However, if you look hard enough and effectively market your skills, you can beat the competitive Houston job market.

Beat the Competitive Houston Job Market: Pay a Visit to Houston Community College

Not only are there always job openings in the library, laboratory and bookstore at HCCS, but they also have an amazing program called The WorkSource. While not a job placement agency, it is a free service that gains job seekers access to hundreds of job openings that are not advertised in the paper or on the Internet. You can meet with a career counselor who will help you develop your resume, find jobs, apply for positions and gain continued education.

Beat the Competitive Houston Job Market: Pick Up the Free Classifieds

The Greensheet, the JobWorld and other free classified publications and be found at H.E.B., Randall's, Kroger and other grocery stores, and they have plenty of job advertisements that don't make it into the Chronicle. They advertise jobs all the way from entry-level to senior management, and it can give you an edge on your competitors.

Beat the Competitive Houston Job Market: Head to the Airport

If you live anywhere near Bush IAH or Hobby airport, you can find thousands of available jobs, and they are always looking. From office jobs to TSA to gate attendants to aircraft maintenance workers, there are plenty of available positions, no matter your education or expertise.

Beat the Competitive Houston Job Market: Use a Temp Agency

Houston has one of the largest numbers of temp agencies out of all the U.S. cities. Kelly Services, LPC Personnel, Search Finance, Burnett Specialists, Clayton Personnel, Career Link and Veterinary Staffing Solutions, LLC, are all excellent choices for your job hunting needs. Simply go in, fill out an application, take any tests they offer and wait for a response. Just be sure to sign up with the agencies that cater to the type of position you are looking for.

Beat the Competitive Houston Job Market: Use Chron.com

Over the last couple of years, the Houston Chronicle's website Chron.com has become an invaluable resource for Houston area professionals. You can post your resume online while you look for jobs and set up alert systems for positions that are applicable to your experience.Just make sure to set your resume to "Public" so that potential employers can find you online.