Finding work in the Mattoon-Charleston (Champaign: fit in, employment, living in)

[Sammy42]

I'm living in the area after being away for 25 years because my parents are in bad health and I have no siblings to help. I'm currently looking for work in the area, but haven't found many promising prospects.

I mainly worked in natural foods while I was away and I know there is one small natural foods store in Charleston but that's it.

When I lived here before the main ways of looking for a job were 1) the employment office which doesn't exist anymore, and 2) the classifieds in the Mattoon newspaper. (The paper doesn't list jobs in anymore and their website simply has a link to Monster, which is probably the worst employment website out there).

There's craigslist too which doesn't seem to have much either.

I'm signed up on indeed and other similar websites as well as the temporary employment agencies in town, but the "matches" I've gotten are no matches at all.

The main jobs in the area seem to be fast food or factory work and I just don't fit in at places like that. No offense to anyone who works at those places.

I just can't go back to making what I was making 20 years ago at entry level jobs; I'm almost 50. Where do people go looking for jobs these days? Are there good places to apply with a smart, diverse workforce?

[damba]

What about something at EIU in Charleston? I would check their website. Entry level is better than nothing if you are in a bind, or at least until something pops up more related to your experience in Natural foods (retail sales/marketing?).

If it was closer to Champaign I would say apply there since there are more 'crunchy' people there who might foster higher demand for Natural Food (related) stores, etc.

cheers