The job market in the 21st century is notoriously competitive, with around 250 applications received for every job opening, according to data published by the recruitment website, Glassdoor.
It’s no surprise, then, that job seekers are turning to increasingly creative measures in an attempt to stand out from the crowd.
If you’re fed up of your resume continually disappearing into the internet abyss, it might be time for you to start taking a more drastic approach to your job search.
To help give you some creative spark, we’ve rounded up five alternative ways that are guaranteed to grab a recruiter’s attention, below:
1. Hire A Billboard
Hiring a billboard directly opposite your dream place of work is one sure-fire way to get yourself noticed.
There have been a number of job seekers that have made headlines in recent years by taking this outlandish approach. The one downside? Hiring a billboard very rarely comes cheap.
2. Go Social
Image credit: Pixabay
There’s no reason why advertising on social media should be strictly limited to businesses. In fact, because of the range of audience filters sites like Facebook and LinkedIn let you choose between, there’s a good chance that your advertisement will be seen by someone relevant to the type of job you’re looking to get.
3. Take A Gamble On Video
Image credit: Wikipedia
While its appeal can be polarizing, there’s no doubting that video resumes are a great way of making a lasting impression. What impression that is depends entirely on how you sell yourself in under three minutes.
4. Turn Yourself Into A Billboard
Public transport stations around the world are teeming with thousands of commuters every day. So if you want to get the message out there that you’re looking for a job, there aren’t many better places to start.
All you need is a handwritten sign, some copies of your resume to hand out, and the self-confidence to cope with hundreds of glancing eyes.
Recent university graduate Alfred Ajani tried his luck with this approach at London’s Waterloo station, bagging himself four job interviews within a week.
5. Go Retro
Image credit: Pexels
While over three-quarters of adults in the UK own a phone, a staggering 25% never actually use it to make a phone call.
Millennials are arguably the worst offenders when it comes to this. This is all the more surprising considering how much time they spend attached to their phones.
You can imagine then, just how surprised a recruiter would be if they were to receive a cold call from someone inquiring about a job.
It’s that surprise factor that will help you to make a good first impression, particularly if you’re able to communicate confidently over the phone.
And If All Else Fails…
Why not create your own job? Skills like coding, writing and web design are in high demand in many of the world’s largest job markets. Thanks to the availability of faster global internet speeds, a worldwide audience is now connectable with a click.
The number of self-employed in many of the world’s most developed countries has soared in recent years. The age-old stereotypes of what a working life should be, are changing forever.
Top image: Flickr
