Start a mailing campaign
One tactic is to look through any local area publications that cover businesses in the area and identify companies that might need the kinds of services she can provide. Once this member has developed a list of prospects, she can write to the companies, include a copy of her resume, and see if they have any opportunities now or in the near future.
The member has to make sure to send her letter directly to the person in charge of hiring in the department in which she is interested in working. Sending these kinds of letters to the human resources department is a waste of time and money. HR doesn't know what to do with them and usually files them away or discards them.
Keep in mind that such an approach will have a low yield even in good economic times — the member might get a few responses back for every 100 or so letters she writes. Still, something is better than nothing, and you never know what doors you are going to open up with this tactic.
While she is working on this tactic, she can start another one with another list of companies. This second list is of the companies that sell software, (project management, tools, tracking) to the kinds of companies she would like to work for, along with any consultants who cater to these companies.
With this list in hand, she can write, e-mail, or call to see if anyone is willing to take the time to give her an informational interview. As she indicated, she is seeking more information as well as outright job opportunities. Talking to these folks could help her better understand how the outsourcing process works in this country. Perhaps there are other ways she can use her experience.
If she wants to expand the list of prospects for this second tactic, a good way to find more names is to search trade publications and sites looking for articles related to outsourcing. Many times the people who are quoted in the articles are open to talking with readers, and even the article's author might be able to contribute some useful ideas.
Building a track record of success
If she stays active on the local scene by continuing to attend industry-related get-togethers, lectures, and other activities, she will eventually get a sense of what is happening in the local labour market. Combining these efforts with the other tactics I've outlined, she will get a very good look at how outsourcing is done across the country.
She may not be able to find a staff position at a company in the area, but she might be able to get work on a short-term basis. That would help her build a track record of success in this country and could pave the way for a full-time, permanent position down the road. She might also decide that she wants to work on her own, taking on short-term projects for several different companies in the area.
The reader is correct in her gut instinct that she needs to learn all she can and talk to as many people as she can. Doing so will help her build a solid foundation for a career in this country.
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