Creative Job Hunting

Creative Job Hunting

With the economy being tough as it is and with ever-increasing competition, you need to be more creative when searching for a job. It is no longer enough to simply put your resume online and wait for HR personnel or recruiters to call you.
In conjunction with searching for jobs on the Internet job boards and scouring the help wanted sections of the newspapers, there are other avenues you can pursue to assist your job search. Many of the avenues are related to networking.

Frequent the haunts of others in your industry
Make yourself a fixture at the coffee shops, lounges, restaurants and other establishments that people in your industry frequent. Over time, you can acquaint yourself with some of the other regulars and hopefully get yourself a job.

Join online communities
There are thousands of groups with many members that can assist you with your job hunt. Join a community in your field and get acquainted with others by chatting and joining message boards.

Email your friends
Everyone knows someone. Use this to your advantage. Let all your friends know you're looking for a position and ask your friends to forward your resume to others who may be interested in your skills.

Read industry magazines
Reading everything you can get your hands on relating to your industry helps immensely in getting information and job leads. Stay on top of events, trends, and other news. If you find an article an employer might like, send it to him and introduce yourself that way, and if you find information on a new company forming, send them your information.
Using these alternative measures to try and get your next position can make you stand out from the crowd. Also, don't limit yourself to these suggestions. Think outside the box, be alert to any and all opportunities, and do some creative branding about yourself.