Posted by Mark in 
Times are tough and finding a job isn’t exactly an easy thing. Using the same tactics as everyone else isn’t near as effective as it used to be. This calls for getting creative in your job search and tactics to land a job.
You have to stand out to prospective employers to get their attention. Grab their attention in some unconventional ways and you stand a much better chance of being noticed. Otherwise your resume will disappear in a pile along with everyone elses.
Use your imagination and get creative. And most importantly never give up.
Here’s a list of 30 ways to land a job in 2010:
- Volunteer for an unpaid internship, it may lead to full time work.
- Build an online portfolio/resume to send potential companies to.
- Check Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites. They all have jobs that you may not find elsewhere. Read our guide to using Facebook as a job search tool.
- After a job interview send a thank you note. It will leave a lasting impression.
- Set Google alerts to watch companies you want to work for. You’ll be quick to know when they are hiring.
- Find blogs related to the area of work your interested in. A good portion of them will have a job section.
- Start your own blog and write about your area of expertise. Link to other related blogs.
- Write guest posts on other blogs and article directories. Again showing your expertise.
- Figure out what talent makes you different. Make sure it’s known at your interviews.
- Watch for companies that recently acquired other companies. They will more than likely be hiring.
- Learn another language. Bilingual people are always in high demand.
- Make a video resume and put it on YouTube instead of using a written one.
- Go straight to the source. Contact the CEO or manager directly instead of going through HR.
- Take a job that you are way overqualified for. It may lead to other opportunities.
- Make a top 10 list (David Letterman style) of why they should hire you.
- Make a shirt with your contact info.
- Start a chain letter with your resume, offer a prize to whoever gets you a job.
- Make a PowerPoint presentation of your best work, find out if you can bring it in to the interview.
- Network with interviewers.
- Use Facebook ads. With millions of people, a well placed ad can make a difference.
- Make business cards with your resume on it and hand them out.
- Wear a sign with your contact information and stand out on the street around businesses your interested in.
- Do some volunteer work that will increase the skills you need.
- Network with others that are also looking for a job. Both for support and more opportunities.
- Hand write a letter. Sometimes taking a step back away from technology will make you stand out as most people don’t use these methods.
- Reverse interview: Call and ask for someone in HR and ask about the company’s vision and goals. Suggest skills of yours that may help.
- Give ideas of how you think the company could improve.
- Have your references call after you turn in your resume instead of waiting for them to be called.
- Don’t just stay at home and look for jobs online. Traditional job hunting ways still yield results. Get out of the house and network as well.
- Don’t neglect unconventional job search methods.
Those were some of the suggestions from us to you.Feel free to comment on how job hunters can get the most out in 2010. Do you know of anyone who has gone out of their way, or have really tried something unconventional when it comes to job search? Share with us.
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Although some points are pretty common, they are indeed effective ways to land a job this year. The thing is many job seekers stay in the same old mentality and never venture out to try new things. Thanks for adding a new perspective to job searching.
I really like how innovative this list is. Another idea may be to emphasize your soft skills, interests, and hobbies. I work for OneWire (www.onewire.com), a job-matching site that matches professionals with opportunities in finance based on highly detailed profiles. A main section of the profile asks candidates to list their soft skills, interests, hobbies, affiliations, and more. You never know what connection you may have with a hiring manager, which may make your hard skills stand out more. This also gives the hiring manager a better idea of how well you would fit in with the company’s culture. Job-seekers, I hope this helps!
GREAT article. Don’t forget #31 … take a break and LAUGH. Get your mojo up before you jump back into jobsearching. Visit us at http://www.iget2work.com for comedy for the unemployed and fed up! it’s all free. no sign up. we sell nothing. just humor, stories and job info. GOOD LUCK.
What I love about these ideas is it’s such a proactive, targeted approach – instead of waiting to see what responses you get from sending out resume, it puts YOU in driver’s seat approaching the companies where you’d feel like you have valuable contribution. Great list & great article!
Excellent list! With so many people out of work, if you don’t stand out — you’ll be sitting on the sidelines. As a marketing professional, I turned my unemployment into an opportunity to market myself using LinkedIn and my blogs. I hardly scratched the surface as to any hardcore marketing and had people calling me for consulting opportunities. When I stopped looking for a “real job” and found what the market would bear (lots of consulting work) – I was successful. I am now working from home as a freelance consultant and have never been happier. Look for the opportunities – even if they are outside the box! Change is good!
Loved these suggestions, and will try some of them. Here’s my contribution:
Years ago, my Dad suggested walking in unannounced, having first ascertained the name and title of the person likely to influence the hiring, and asking to see him/her. The idea being that if they are free at the moment they can see you. But if they are too busy right then, they can refuse to see you without feeling rude. As opposed to how they’d feel if they had made an appointment to see you but when you arrived they really didn’t have the time. This addresses that influential person’s comfort level. And puts a living face on your application. Have your references all lined up, and a portfolio of your work in hand, if applicable. This worked for me two out of three times, i.e. I actually landed two jobs this way. Don’t know whether it would work today, or in all industries, but . . . good luck, fellow job-hunters.
Thanks for the list. It gives people a lot to think about a choose what may be best for them.
I would add developing a prospects list: co-workers, former colleagues, friends, friends of friends, and relatives. Do not forget to include career offices or contacts at alma mater(s). Some colleges and universities are becoming much more active in helping alums find jobs, not just current students or recent grads. Join your local alumni association.
Job searches are a marketing and selling process so don’t get discouraged by the unresponsive or negative experiences. Remember the helpful people and keep them informed of your progress.
Finally, networking is good all the time not just when you are looking for a job. I’ve worked at nine companies covering two careers and networking has been a key component in all but one job.
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Great blog here, such a wealth of information.
An example (apologies for the shameless plugin) of a unconventional job hunt approach – sandwich-boarding in London: http://HelpAndreaFindaJob.com/
Andrea
I’d tap that.