Ten Tips for Job Hunting in Sedona and the Verde Valley
By Marie King as appeared in Sedona.biz

Sedona and the Verde Valley are magnets for those who are interested in enjoying the outdoors and the outstanding beauty of the area. The region also attracts numerous young retirees because of its temperate climate and relaxed lifestyle, as well as individuals who have been guided here for creative or spiritual reasons.

If you have made the decision to relocate to this region and want to find employment, you need to understand that the job market in the Verde Valley is unique. To be successful in it, you must take a different approach to job search.

Here are ten tips that can help maximize your chances of finding the right opportunity for you:

Dont Compare Oranges to Apples in Your Job Search

Many people who move to Sedona and the Verde Valley come out of Metropolitan areas and job markets that have a very different character; yet they expect to find the same career opportunities as the place that they have left. Understand that Sedona is a resort community and the neighboring towns have been largely rural until recently. This means that the industries, pay scale and sought-after skills are probably going to be different from where you have relocated.

Know What the Growing Industries are in the Area

According to the labor market information for Yavapai County, where Sedona and Verde Valley are located, these are the growing industries for the county:

1. Government
2. Colleges and Universities
3. Amusement and Recreation Services
4. Child Day Care Services
5. Personnel Supply Services Offices and Clinics of Medical Doctors
6. Dimension Stone (Construction Material cut to specifications)
7. Masonry, Stonework and Plastering
8. Business Services
9. General Merchandise Stores
10. Nondurable Goods
11. Individual and Family Services
12. Landscape and Horticultural Services
13. Computer and Data Processing Services
14. Offices of Osteopathic Physicians
15. Oil and Gas Field Services

Know Who the Largest Employers Are

According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security, these are the largest employers in the Verde Valley:

1. Verde Valley Medical Center
2. Cliff Castle Casino
3. Wal-Mart
4. Sunterra
5. Enchantment Resort
6. Cottonwood Oak Creek School District
7. Yavapai County
8. Yavapai Community College (Clarkdale Campus)
9. Los Abrigados Resort
10. Camp Verde Unified School District

Study the Employer Web Sites and Determine What Type of Jobs Are Available

Many times individuals move to the area and find out that there are limited or no jobs in their profession. Understanding what jobs are available can help you determine what skills are in demand, which employers to target, and whether or not you need to make a career change.

Identify the Job You Want and Go After It

Many people come to this place and aren’t sure what they want for employment. When they are unclear, the old saying, “If you dont know where youre going, you probably wont get there,” kicks in. Work hard to get a job focus. You can do this through looking at job ads, doing informational interviewing, retaining a career counselor or reading any of the available books on the subject.

Create a Resume that Reflects the Employers Needs

Many times people use a resume to chronicle their past job history. What you need to do is to determine what skills and knowledge the employer is seeking and highlight that experience. You should also emphasize experience that is most relevant to this region.

This is especially true if you are relocating from an area of the country that is very different in character. When I was doing long-distance job search from Boston, where I lived, I stressed past experience that I had had working in a rural area of Massachusetts. I wanted employers to know that I had understanding of the lifestyle that goes on in a rural area.

Consider Starting Your Own Business

Many times people moving into Verde Valley choose to start their own business, so they can obtain the level of compensation that they want. Identify a need that you can fill and put together business and marketing plans. Some resources that you might tap into to do this are your local chambers of commerce and Yavapai Community College . The Health Care Group of Arizona offers health insurance for businesses with as little as one employee.

Network, Network, Network

If you are new to the area, your best source of information are people who have lived and worked here for a while. Fortunately, people in the Sedona/ Verde Valley area are extremely friendly and helpful. You can use the listings in the event calendars of the local papers -Red Rock News, Kudos and Four Corners – to identify what types of groups are available and when they are meeting. Once you have selected some organizations that might be helpful to you. Put yourself out there and start networking.

Consider Doing Telecommuting or Limited Long-Distance Commuting

Many people, who are moving to the Sedona/ Verde Valley area are leaving lucrative jobs and have highly specialized knowledge and skills. If you are one of these people, you might consider using these skills in a telecommuting or limited long-distance position. One woman I know works for a highly profitable national placement agency in a specialized field of engineering from her home in Sedona. She gained her knowledge as a human resource professional in an industry that uses this type of engineer.

Another woman, who is a psychoanalyst, commutes two days a week to Phoenix to run groups in her area of expertise. This works is so well paying that she can make excellent money on a much abbreviated work schedule.

Consider Ways of Creating Sources of Passive Income

People move to Sedona and the Verde Valley to have a more relaxed lifestyle, yet they end up in full-time employment to meet their expenses. Passive income is income that is generated by a means other than work. You can create passive income by having a roommate, which would cut down on one of your major expenses housing. You could also rent out your guest room to tourists, who prefer that to a hotel.

One couple I know that sold a house in San Diego at a large profit and used the majority of the money to buy rental property. They bought a manufactured home that needed repairs for less than $30,000 dollars and invested the rest of their money to buy rental property in Cottonwood, which is a major source of their income. Right now, rental property may not be your best option.

Another acquaintance of mine had a studio apartment and guest house included in his property when he had his house built. The studio and the guest house provide excellent revenue.

Whatever approach you use to your job search- think out of the box. Creative approaches to job hunting are the norm in the Sedona/ Verde Valley Region. The only caveat I would suggest is that whatever position you choose let it be one that is in sync with your vision for your life in this area.