5 Tried and True Ways to Find Work

Unfortunately, in this current state of the economy, many people are still job hunting. They're applying for every open position they can find, increasing the competition for available jobs.

It's important that you stand out in the crowd. You have to prove to your prospective employer that hiring you would be adding an asset to their company.

These suggestions may make finding that job just a bit easier:

1. Social Networking. Internet social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are all the rage. Many people use these sites to chat with long-lost friends or find old loves (guilty), but they're also great networking places to find employment as well. It's how I found my 9-5 with the help of an agency and a dedicated recruiter.

• The idea behind social networks is to build a relationship. That means that you'll want to show off your value before asking for a job.
  

• It may not work overnight, but these sites have incredible word-of-mouth possibilities, so be diligent and keep networking and broadcasting that you're available for work!

2. Offer services for free. Okay, I know what you're thinking: why should you offer services for free when you don't even have a job? Aren't you supposed to be making money with your skills and talents? Yes, but offering your services for free can actually work in your favor and set you apart from your competition.

For example, are you a talented childcare professional looking to get your foot in the door of a new daycare center? Are you an awesome cook who would love to work in a new restaurant in town? Or maybe like me, you seek to offer your career coaching services to professionals interested in ways they can quickly advance their careers. In that case, like me, you might offer free webinars on mastering interviewing, negotiating salary, or confidence building. Here's what to do if you would like to work for a brick and mortar based company:

• Offer to work for them for a week for free. If they're pleased with your work, you may be hired on the spot, or at least when they have their first available opening.
  

• The most important thing to remember is you have to be a top-notch volunteer for that week. You want them to discover what an asset you could be as a paid employee.
  

3. Write to prospective employers. Compose a letter to businesses that you're seriously interested in. In the letter, highlight how you'll boost business for the company and discuss what you'd bring to the table.

If you can convince them that they're better off with you than without you, then you've won the battle. Make sure the letter is professional, grammatically correct, and confident.

Your goal is to make others understand why they need you as an employee, not to beg them for a job. There's a big difference, but it's easy to cross that line, so use good judgment.

4. Do it the old-fashioned way. In this generation of texting, video calls, and emails, your digital or printed resume can easily be overlooked. Something to consider is to dress professionally and hit the pavement. Get your mind right first. Believe you will find a job that day and you will. I have done this. I'll share the story someday, but in short, I said I would get a job that very day and within hours of walking into any establishment that had a hiring sign up, I landed a job at a well-known flower shop in Northern California. Get this. They were looking for someone with my experience to head up their corporate accounts division; a new venture for them. Here's what to do:

• Introduce yourself, shake hands, and hand them a well-prepared resume package to accompany your elevator pitch.
  

• Building a relationship with someone is essential to standing above the crowd. It also allows a manager to put a face to a resume rather than print a resume out of their email inbox.
  

• Though it may take a bit of footwork and perseverance, this may be your perfect way to make an impression when applying for a coveted job.

5. Place an ad online. When looking for a job, the first place we all tend to go to is the most popular job site. There we sift through hundreds of outdated ads and apply to as many as we possibly can.

• Maybe you can turn the tables. This is where you can think outside the box. What about using your online profiles as your own ad telling prospective employers that you're free to work for them? Go beyond simply stating you're open to work and create video, audio, or text posts to stand out from all the others, and commit to posting every weekday until you get the job you need and want. Highlight your strengths, share what you have to offer and what position you'll excel at.
  

• Remember, you're in control. You want prospective employers to pick up the phone and call you - not to skim your ad thinking, "There's another desperate individual begging for work."

Looking for a job today is challenging, but thinking a bit differently than other job hunters may be all you need to get that position you've been hoping for. Stand out from your competition with these great tips, and be the one who lands the offers.

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