It can be a tough market for job seekers out there. The economy is up and down, with no clear end in sight. And traditional job search methods can result in your resume ending up in a heap of dozens — or even hundreds.
To find your next career opportunity, you have to stand out.
Standing out from the pack is an essential part of any job search in today’s economy. You have the experience and education necessary to succeed, and now it’s time to truly set yourself apart. These unconventional job search tactics can help you go from the bottom to the top of the pile:
- Reach out to a company in need. What does that company need, exactly? Why, you, of course! Put in some leg work and do research on prospective employers. Research their history and current challenges, then, send them a letter (even better, a letter sent via courier) where you carefully prove how hiring you can solve one (or more) of their workforce challenges. You will prove your immediate worth and ability to impact their organization, in a much more powerful way than a few bullet points on a resume.
- Show some out-of-the-ordinary confidence. Confidence is key – that’s one you’ve probably heard. But how about taking ownership of the position for which you’re applying? Show some initiative and put together a business card and brochure with both your information, and your prospective employer’s information. By demonstrating your knowledge of the company, and your recognition of how your strengths will lend themselves to on-the-job results, you’ll display a confidence that outpaces any interviewee.
- Time to be creative. After awhile, all cover letters and resumes can start to look the same to hiring managers. Try to present yourself in a unique way to prospective employers. Instead of a cover letter, how about a press release announcing your hire, touting your background and strengths? If you’ve never written a press release, a simple online search can provide you with the resources you need to get started. Instead of a simple one-page resume, how about a visual representation of your resume (showing the results you’ve generated for previous employers), or even a video resume? The possibilities go as far as your creativity can take you!
Looking for your next career opportunity?
Search our currently available jobs or contact a CornerStone Staffing recruiter today. We’ll help you reach your career goals!
Creativity is a lot of fun but like the saying goes, “results are not typical.” In other words you may hear that a video resume worked for someone but when you try it you find yourself humiliated.
The reason for this is that most HR departments are staffed with young people who haven’t learned to appreciate creativity yet.
The one avenue that does work, networking. That’s why I connect with staffing recruiters. They want to give me advice on how to update my resume but the real value they add are getting through the HR barricade and in front of the hiring manager.