4 Radical Ways to Find a Job
With unemployment hitting a high nationwide, many job seekers are resorting to more unconventional ways to find a job. I want to share four radical ways some people used to find a job. Perhaps they can also help you think outside the box about your job search efforts.
#1: Work for free to uncover hidden job opportunities. This is an increasing trend. As it’s taking many people six months to a year to find a job in today’s market. Some began to work for free in order to learn new skills.
Benefits: 1) You can still collect unemployment checks, 2) You’ll learn new skills that help with your longer term career goals, 3) It’s much easier to find an opportunity to do this and you would have more options of where to work and what to work on, 4) It could turn into a job, 5) It’s a great way to network and learn about cool companies, 6) You can have a great story to tell at job interviews about how you spent your time between jobs
How: There are two ways to find hidden job opportunities by working for free. 1) Find companies you may like to work for based on your interest. Then figure out a warm connection through your network if you can. If not, cold call the person that you may want to work for and offer to work for free, and 2) Go to start-up type conferences and meet up to find potential companies that are interesting. Start-ups always need people and don’t always have money. They will at least listen to your proposal.
#2:Propose radical compensation structures. Stand out in your job application or interview by offering to work for free or for a low stipend during the first month. This will give you a leg up against other candidates for an existing job opening. I know one friend who was sending out resumes and cover letters regularly like everyone else with little success. Then her husband suggested, in her cover letter, to work for free one month. She tried it and received much better responses. Soon she found a job, worked for free for one month and then was paid after that. She also networked with a few other companies who were intrigued by her offer and now she has more contacts.
Benefits: 1) You’ll stand out from the rest of the pack in your application and candidacy, 2) Give the employer a chance to trial you, which is an easier sale in today’s market, 3) It’s more than likely you’ll be hired if you do well. You have a month to convince the company to hire you, and 4) Remember, you won’t be paid anyway if you don’t find a job in a month so this is not a loss but just a smarter way to stand out.
How: Propose this in any communication when you apply for a job (cover letter, email submission, etc.). Also, say it in your interviews when appropriate. You can also think of variation to this – offer to be paid by bonus the first three months based on your performance, etc. You get the idea. Try anything to get in the door.
#3: Exclude experience to qualify. I watched on CNN where this guy with a masters degree chose not to list that on his resume because he was applying for jobs that he was overqualified for. He said to be overqualified is also a disadvantage because employers will look at your resume and worry that if they hire you, you won’t stay long if the market gets better.
Benefits: 1) This may not be an ideal job, but you’ll look like an ideal candidate to the company, 2) Find a job quicker to support you financially and buy you time to find a better job when market gets better.
How: Match your resume to the skills they’re looking for. Don’t appear over-qualified.
#4: Draw attention to yourself with a very targeted blog. A friend suggested that if you really want to be hired by a company, one of the radical ways to find a job is to start writing a blog about that company and the department you’re interested in. Comment on what they’re doing well, where they can improve, interview their customers, etc. This is definitely radical, but apparently companies have hired bloggers in-house before just to shut them up. Think of the blog as an extended way to show how much you want to work for the company and what you can contribute.
Benefits: 1) Build your writing, creativity, and research skills, 2) Build your knowledge of the company, their product, and services, 3) Get noticed and stand out from the masses, 4) You may get hired or at least get an interview.
How: Besides what I already wrote above. Also, publicize the blog to the company – include it on your resume and communications. If you write enough targeted posts, it will also show up on their radar.
As you can see, people are getting very creative in coming up with ways to land a job. Perhaps some ideas here will help you. Give it a try. You never know.