5 Tips For Greater Grand Forks Job Seekers!

Are you on the hunt for a job in Grand Forks? Boy, do I have some tips in store for you! I have compiled some “need to know” suggestion when you’re looking for employment here in Greater Grand Forks!

Before diving into your job search, it’s important to understand a bit about our local market. Here in our area, employment is mostly shaped by a mix of education, healthcare, manufacturing, unmanned autonomous systems, and agriculture related industries. Grand Forks is a regional hub in the Red River Valley, so it offers unique opportunities and challenges for job seekers and employers. Some trends in employment here include a steady demand for workers in skilled trades, healthcare, education and transportation. Furthermore, outside of manufacturing, two of our biggest employers are the University of North Dakota (UND), and Altru Health System. Don’t be overwhelmed, there is a position for you in Greater Grand Forks!

One of our greatest strengths here is how many local resources that are available to job seekers. Whatever phase of your career that you find yourself in, there are people here who can help! Some examples to take advantage of include:

• Job Service North Dakota
  • Hosts large job fairs
  • Has loads of resources from practicing interviews to helping new Americans find work.
• Employment Agencies
  • Express Employment Professionals: Serve as a connection for job seekers to employers to help find all forms of employment (temp, full-time, contract work, etc.)
  • Doherty Staffing Solutions: Help job seekers find the best match for them!
• School Resources
  • UND Career Services: if you’re a UND student, make sure to check out their career services department and all they can do to help you! From resume reviewing, to job fairs, don’t skip on them!
  • Northland Community & Technical College: Over in East Grand Forks, NCTC has a career services department as well! If you are a student here, again, don’t miss out on all they can do for you!

Those are a few main spots, but other honorable mentions include: The Grand Forks Public Library, Gfiscooler Job Board, Global Friends Coalition (helps immigrants & refugees), and more!

Something else to keep in mind when on the hunt, is our seasonal employment trends. As with most retail industries, we do have an increase in open retail positions during the fourth quarter of the year. Often as they are ramping up for those busy holiday sales! Definitely be on the lookout for those if you’re interested! Additionally, summer seasonal work openings skyrocket each spring. Examples of these jobs include seasonal landscaping, grounds maintenance, and more! In the fall, you can make good money helping with harvest through positions like trucking, grain operations laborers, seasonal custom applicators, etc.

Now, networking certainly isn’t a common favorite tool amongst many, but it doesn’t make it any less valuable. Sometimes, it truly is the people you know. Especially in a close-knit community like here in the Grand Forks region. It can give you access to a hidden job market that isn’t simply through posts on job boards. When you connect and put yourself out there with professionals in your field, you increase the chances of hearing about opportunities before they’re posted publicly. Beyond finding a job, networking is an important aspect of gaining knowledge about your field, and the professional culture of your community. Groups/places I’d suggest looking out for to network include Grand Forks Chamber Business After Hours, GGFYP, Grand Forks Rotary Club, Grand Forks Women’s Leadership Cooperative, the Sertoma Club, and more!

If you’re considering a move, Grand Forks isn’t just looking for workers, it’s welcoming new community members. Community organizations and platforms like Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals, Greater Grand Forks: Way Cooler Than You Think Initiative, Global Friends Coalition, local Facebook groups, etc. are always open to helping newcomers or pointing them in the right direction. Greater Grand Forks is a very family-friendly community with something to offer to everyone!

Hopefully some of these tips gave you a bit more insight into navigating our job market here in ‘ye old’ Grand Forks. There is almost always something for everyone, and if there is one thing I know for sure, is that you can thrive in your career here!