5 Out of the Box Ways to Find a Job

5 Out of the Box Ways to Find a Job 5 Out of the Box Ways to Find a Job Looking for a job sometimes forces you to think outside the box. Take the unconventional route with these five ways to find a job. Put an ad on Facebook. Using the social media site’s templates, craft a short ad (no more than 160 characters, max), along with a good photo of yourself. Target users whose companies you would like to work for, and link your ad to your resume or another professional site, such as your LinkedIn profile or a website, if you have one. Contact your alumni association. Beyond all the pomp and circumstance, your alma mater can be a great resource when you’re job hunting. Not only can they help you revamp your resume and help coach you through mock job interviews, but they generally have a database filled with alumni contact info. That way, you can search by company name or even industry to reconnect with old classmates- and score a job. Try speed networking. You can’t imagine that you could find your next job in a lounge, but you just might when you give speed networking a shot. Similar in scope to speed dating, organizations advertise for professionals to meet industry leaders for 5-10 minutes at a time. Since time is limited, practice your pitch beforehand so you’re prepared. Register with a temp agency. Sure, you want a full-time job, but getting your foot in the door first is what truly counts. So sign up with a couple of agencies to begin working- and earning a paycheck. Many times, companies may offer temp employees first dibs at a job before posting the position online. And above all, take your job seriously- even though you’re a temp, act like you’re the newest full-time hire. Your confidence- and knowledge of the company’s policies and practices- could land you your next job. Try volunteering. If you’re looking to do a 360 on your career, volunteering could be the first step towards turning passion into profit. Find times between your job searching to work in an industry that you love. Maybe you’ve always aspired to be an ESL teacher. So reach out to your local school district to find a job that can work for you. After you’ve built some experience, you can list your work experience- and successes- on your resume. In that way, volunteering gives you fresh experience to talk about during an interview, as well as perspective about entering a new career field. Being creative will help you not only in finding a job, but keeping your skills fresh as you job hunt. Readers, what have been some of the most creative ways you’ve looked for a job? Let us know in the comment section below! photo: thinkstockphotos.com