subject: You Don't Have To Follow The Rules: The Best Job Hunt [print this page] Have you ever felt like giving up your search for a great job and just settling instead? It may seem like there just aren't that many opportunities out there for you. Conversely, looking for a job can be a great time for challenging yourself and expanding your mind. An inspired attitude could be just the thing you're missing in your quest for a job.
The job hunt process is very familiar. You read want ads then mail a resume and hope to get an interview. Until you know one way or the other, you're forced to wait anxiously to hear that you're hired. You and other people on a quest for a job don't always have to follow the same steps. It never hurts to consider solving a problem in a new way.
Don't react, create. Everyone in the job market can reply to an advertisement for an open job. Instead, call some companies where you might like to work even if they aren't advertising a job opening. This gives you a chance to inquire about positions that may have just opened and to just tell them who you are. Being familiar with particular business practice is also a good idea because it allows you to offer specific ways you can help the company.
Basic guidelines aren't set in stone. Companies often advertise for a position and add specifications for potential employees, such as how many years of experience they should have or specific certifications. In many cases, you are in no way disqualified from getting a job as long as you can show how you're qualified. If you don't meet all specifications, you still shouldn't be too discouraged to apply. Remember that every business operates differently and will teach you after you're hired. Also, employers may find that you have helpful abilities that they didn't initially seek out.
Be innovative in your approach. Looking for a job using proven methods can be successful, but it doesn't have to be the only way. If you're searching for jobs in newspapers and magazines then you should also look on the Internet. Think about ways that you can distinguish yourself from other job-seekers and at the same time network with potential employers and colleagues.
Finding a job isn't a one-size-fits-all process. The most important thing to remember is to make the process work for you no matter what that may be. Creativity and being proactive are just two of the traits that can help you find the right job path.
