Struggling to get interviews?
Applying for a job within the creative industries?
Or is the role you’re looking for really, really (really) competitive?
Then it may just be time to think outside the box and try a new approach to your job search.
Check out these 7 creative ways to get a new job, for some inspiration…
1. Post on social media.
If you’re not currently using social media to aid your job search, something has gone wrong.
LinkedIn is absolutely packed full of opportunities and pretty much every company out there is on Facebook and Twitter (and even Instagram) too.
What you may not have done however, is posted an update, advertising the fact that you’re looking for a new opportunity (this one goes out the window for secret job-seekers).
This will give you the chance to reach hundreds of people (thousands if you’re particularly popular) who might just know of a vacancy that would suit you.
Of course, there are millions of things posted across social media every day, so the more interesting and unique your update, the better.
Recruiter Pro Tip One warning: make sure your social media plea doesn’t come across too desperate. No begging, no ranting and no moaning. These kinds of things always attract negative attention and will make you seem over-emotional. Be positive and use friendly language like “can’t wait to start a new career” and “looking for an exciting possibility.” Click here to read some great advice on asking your LinkedIn connections for help!
I’m not just talking about LinkedIn. You probably have tons of friends on Facebook and Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, so if you can make use of those too, do it!
2. Or get a friend to do it.
Get even more traction by asking one (or a few) friends to advertise you.
I saw this post recently on LinkedIn and it got a huge, positive response…
I mean, the stats themselves are pretty impressive, but the fact that a friend was willing to step up, stick by their pal and put their own neck on the line spoke volumes too.
3. Use paid advertising.
If you’re willing to spend some money to get the job of your dreams, then paid advertising could be an avenue worth considering.
You have the option to target certain industries, recruitment agencies and HR Managers and your ad is bound to attract attention (it’s definitely memorable).
Don’t believe me?
Check out Leona Chu’s story here: Why I Work4
Her bold experiment shows that social media has flipped the whole job-seeking process on its head and active job-hunters should instead take the bull by the horns and advertise themselves.
Recruiter Pro Tip Before even considering this tactic, you need to know what you’re doing with paid advertising. It’s not easy and if it goes wrong, you’ll be paying for something that simply won’t work. Here are some articles to get you started…
This kind of technique is perfect if you’re trying to get into the marketing industry!
You’ve probably realised that this kind of technique works best if you work in a creative industry.
4. Create a video CV.
Video marketing has gotten increasingly popular over the last few years, with the rise of Snapchat, Facebook Live etc. – people just like watching videos (especially fun ones).
So why not take advantage of that and create your own quirky video CV?
It’ll stand out, show off your true personality and you’re bound to at least get a call-back.
You can find some great examples of this in the following blog: 23 of the world's most creative CVs.
5. Or a personal website.
On the same not, you could also create your very own quirky personal website (add the link to your CV or email it across to potential employers).
(If you’re a designer or copywriter, then this is pretty much necessary).
Fill it with personality, fun and quirk and just watch the interviews come rolling in.
You’ll find some great examples, in this post: 10 Amazing Personal Websites You've Simply Got to See
6. Send a sales letter.
How about going old-school with some good old-fashioned direct mail?
I don’t know about you, but I love receiving post and would definitely be tempted to open up a letter addressed to myself (that looked formal and not spammy).
If you want to go even further, you could include a gift with your CV like chocolate, a voucher or even something weird and wonderful like a shoe (get your foot through the door…)
Stunts like this do cost money, but they’ll definitely ensure you’re remembered.
7. Get out there!!!
People pull some weird and wonderful stunts when it comes to job-seeking – but is it necessary?
One of the simplest, yet most effective ways of standing out is to actually get out there and speak to potential employers.
You could go round office buildings asking to speak to the HR Manager and handing out your CV, you could stand around in the train station (like Alfred) with a big sign or you could go to networking events.
Actually bonding with another human, face-to-face, is bound to be more memorable than sending across an email.
Feel inspired?
There are heaps of creative things you could do to find the perfect job for you!
But I know, they’re not for everyone (they can be daunting, cringe-worthy and scary)…
You’ll have to sum up how long you’ve been looking, how sought-after you are, how competitive your industry is and whether it’s really worth the extra effort!
If you’d like some more (simple) tips on job-seeking and careers, feel free to sign up to this blog and we’ll send over a quickly weekly update with the latest!
Good luck!
