It
was gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson who said: "When the going
gets tough, the weird turn pro."
When it comes to your job search in this sluggish, war-time economy,
you might try this advice: When the going gets tough, the tough get
weird.
In other words, be daring. Different. Zig when other job seekers are
zagging.
Here are four ways to get "weird" -- and more importantly, get hired
-- by being unconventional in your job search ...
1) Seek The Path Less Followed
Everyone advises you to post your resume on leading sites like Monster.com
and HotJobs.com. And there's nothing wrong with that -- my clients
have been hired using both.
But don't forget the growing number of job postings found on niche
Web sites that cater to specific industries, associations and other
affinity groups.
This tactic worked for one of my clients Carla S., from Marshall,
Minnesota.
"I interviewed for and got offered a great job this week after applying
to openings on sites from my industry, like www.jobsinlogistics.com
and www.careersinfood.com," says Carla.
If you follow Carla's lead and focus your search on sites that appeal
to a narrow audience, you'll likely find you have less competition
for jobs that are closely matched to your qualifications. That's a
win-win scenario, don't you think?
Find niche job boards at sites like www.nicheboards.com and by doing
searches for keywords ("YOUR INDUSTRY + jobs") at search engines like
www.google.com, www.yahoo.com, www.teoma.com and www.kartoo.com.
2) Network Backwards
One client, Jeff R. from Prior Lake, Minnesota, hit pay dirt in February
by networking among contacts most people would never consider calling
-- potential employers from his LAST job search.
"I emailed a manager I had interviewed with two years ago, before
my latest job. He had moved to a different part of the company, but
he referred me to the right decision maker. That new person interviewed
me and offered me a job," says Jeff.
So don't forget to look both ways when you network - forward and back,
all the way back to your college career office and internships, no
matter how long ago you graduated.
3) Reject Rejection
Your response to a letter of rejection may, incredibly, get you the
job, according to California-based James Adams, a career expert and
former job-search consultant to the U.S. government
"I was consulted by a woman who interviewed very well for a position,
but still got a letter of rejection after applying. Most people would
have torn up the letter and gone on to other things," says Adams.
Instead, Adams told her to write a gracious reply, thanking the company
for their time and reaffirming her strong desire to work for them.
Did it work?
"The top contender for the position had to relocate on short notice.
The hiring panel remembered the letter they got from the really eager
and pleasant woman who replied to their rejection letter. She got
the job," says Adams.
When networking and sending out resumes, most folks tend to search far and wide for job leads. But don't overlook your own family as a potential gold mine of employment information.
One client of mine, Paul W. from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, found a job this way in accounting and financial management:
"I emailed over 100 resumes to employers and was networking seriously, eventually getting 8-10 good interviews. But it was my wife who helped me find my new job," says Paul.
His wife told her friend, who told her boss about Paul's qualifications. That wife's friend's boss offered Paul an interview, and eventually, a job. It's proof that you should leave no stone unturned in your networking efforts, even under your own roof!
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Copyright © 2003 by Kevin Donlin
Kevin Donlin is Managing Editor of 1 Day Resumes. The 1DR writers provide same-day, one-on-one resume writing assistance. He is also author of "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets Revealed," a do-it-yourself manual that will help you find a job in 30 days ... or your money back. For more information, please visit Resume and Cover Letter Secrets
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