
While employment websites are great resources, you're going to need to take your search a step further. Create a list of the companies you would most like to work for, and be creative and persistent. If you want to be hired for a great job with a great company, you need to do something that makes you stand out from the competition.
- Search in Person
It is a major mistake to limit your job search to online methods. A great way to make an impression on a hiring manager is to show up at the workplace and introduce yourself with a hard copy of your resume, cover letter, and, if possible, work samples. Although you may not walk out having scored an on-the-spot interview, you'll make an important contact and may be remembered as a motivated, stand-out candidate.
- Create a Video
If you've got the skills to do it, create a video of yourself explaining why you want to work for a particular company, as well as the skills you possess that make you a good fit. Email the video to the hiring manager and follow up with a phone call.
- Create a Website
If you're computer savvy, put together a modest website with a unique address. Your site can be nothing more than a single-page letter in which you explain why you want to work for a particular company and why they should hire you. However, you can use the opportunity to be creative and provide examples of your experience, design capabilities, writing samples, and so on.
This idea could be a little costly if you have to pay someone to create your site, but if it lands you a job with a great starting salary, it will pay for itself in no time. Email a link to your website to the hiring manager, and follow up with a phone call.
- Use Postal Mail
Email is great, but sending an old-fashioned resume packet using snail mail can make quite an impact. Few people send hard copies of their credentials anymore, so it's not like your information is going to get lost in a stack of resumes. And if more folks get off the sidelines and back to actively seeking employment, that stack will only get higher and higher. If you are applying to numerous companies, Microsoft Word has a "mail merge" option that will help you streamline the process of creating cover letters and envelopes. Follow up via phone or email with everyone you contact.
- Post Your Resume on Craigslist
Employers frequently look for ways to cut recruiting costs, and hiring from Craigslist has become quite popular. However, when you post your resume, be sure that it stands out. Choose a creative posting title that will catch an employer's eye. Use a different background color, and post it early in the morning, the time when most hiring managers are looking for candidates.
Furthermore, as with any other method, you must be persistent - don't just post it once and forget about it. You can post on Craigslist once every 48 hours, so it may be worth your while to re-post several times per week. Also check the job ads to potentially find a job online using Craigslist.
Final Thoughts
Before you begin your search, avoid resume and cover letter mistakes by being certain that your materials are clean, succinct, and entirely free of grammatical errors. Most resumes are reviewed within approximately 10 seconds, so make sure the person reading it can quickly identify your key strengths and work history.
Prior to interviewing for a job, research the company beforehand so you can speak about it intelligently. Be confident - but not arrogant - and be inquisitive. If you can get these basics down pat and are willing to be creative, you will have a leg up when it comes to your job search in this slowly recovering economy.
What ways can you think of to better target your job search?
See 6 Things Attorneys and Law Students Need to Remove from Their Resumes ASAP If They Want to Get Jobs with the Most Prestigious Law Firms for more information.
Matt Jackson is an HR consultant who writes about job placement, interviewing tips, and resume and cover letter writing.