Dear Joan,

After 13 years of working in the traffic department for a local manufacturer, my problem is as follows: Members of the management team used to be under one roof here with an office staff of 25 people. Last year, a group of high flight owners bought our company plus four others and set up headquarters in another state and reduced the amount of staff as well as work related activity in my job.

I am doing about three hours worth of work and the other five hours either sitting around idle, reading a book, trade publications or updating the department's references and job procedures. These things are all on my own initiative and quite frankly, I find my job very boring and dull.

I realize it is open season, so to speak, for an employer to do whatever they please. But I am considering starting over and looking for a new job or career in a warmer climate because of my health. What are the prospects of finding a job in the southern and western states?
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Boredom is a sure way to force a motivated person out of a job. Since you want to move to a warmer climate, this appears to be just the incentive you need. The Western and Southern states have been growing in population and, depending on the state and industry, job growth has been strong.

Looking for a job can be difficult in your own town but a long distance job hunt can be even tougher. Because you're obviously someone who is self motivated, I believe you'll do what it takes to get one. Normally, I wouldn't suggest that you use your place of employment as your job hunting headquarters but since you have so much idle time, you might as well use it.

The first thing you'll need to do is decide which areas you want to live in. Then get a copy of the Yellow Pages from that area. Contact your local Yellow Pages for assistance in obtaining one. Central libraries also have copies of phone books for major cities.

Next, look up the newspapers in the area. Get a subscription for the Sunday edition and specify you want the want ads included. (Sometimes papers shipped out of state don't include local want ads.)

Now that you have these two keys to the city, use them to unlock opportunities. Phone or write all the significant employment agencies and placement services. Send them a copy of your resume or a letter outlining your accomplishments, experience and job interests.

Clip articles about businesses for which you'd like to work. Call people who are quoted in the articles you enjoy and compliment them. Explain that you are seeking employment in the area and ask them for specific advice. Be clear about what you want to do and the kind of company for which you want to work. It's very frustrating to try to help someone if they don't know what they want. They may be able to give you some inside information on the local business climate, names of professional organizations, or other contacts you could pursue.

Write to the director of the Chamber of Commerce and ask for resources to help you in your job search. Your local Chamber can give you the address. Frequently, industrial directories are available at low cost.

Your local library can also be a rich source of job hunting gold. Some of the treasure might be found in directories such as: "Contacts Influential: Commerce and Industry Directory", "Fortune's Plant and Product Directory", "Dunn and Bradstreet's Million Dollar Directory", "Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources," "Standard and Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives," and "Who's Who in Finance and Industry."

It's important to make connections in the local business network but hard to plug in when you're thousands of miles away. One way to get that extension cord is to join a professional organization in the city to which you want to move. Many such organizations have placement services. Once you had the membership directory you could begin calling fellow members for advice and assistance. (Look in the "Career Guide to Professional Associations.")

Since you work in the traffic department, you may have lots of contacts right under your nose. Make a list of all the people you know who work for your suppliers or shipping companies. Call them and explain -confidentially, of course- that you are looking for a new opportunity.

Because you deal with so many different companies, you may have a big network and not even know it.

If you must mention that health reasons prompted this job search, quickly reassure the listener that your job performance and attendance record are excellent (presuming they are).

I think it's important to plan a trip to the area in which you�re interested. Only by actually visiting a city can you decide for yourself if it is right for you. Ideally, you could have exact dates in mind when you make your contacts so that informational interviews could be set up over the phone. People will take you seriously if you say you are actually coming to town as part of your job hunt.

Some companies are hesitant to grant interviews to people from outside their state because of the cost of travel and possible relocation expenses. Many companies won't relocate non-executive personnel. If you feel this will be a serious barrier, you may want to plan several trips or make it clear that you will pay your own moving expenses.