Jobs at small Nashville companies nobody posts about - 6 months and counting

Two small Nashville employers told me they are hiring but have not posted yet. I worked as a teaching assistant before this. They prefer people who can start within a couple of weeks. Should I visit in person?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

Small employers often hire on recommendation. Ask neighbours, former co-workers and your library.