by Sue Leo Fitzgerald
Job search can feel like an uphill climb any time of year but during the summer it can be particularly frustrating. It’s easy to get distracted and lose energy. Weekend trips, yard projects, shuttling kids to soccer practice and that endless “to do” list that you never have time for when you’re working. So now it’s September and you try again to focus. You sit at your desk, phone in hand, begin making calls and you find all of the people on your contact list are busy. Is EVERYONE still on vacation?
When a job search gets sluggish, give it and yourself a CREATIVE kick start. If there was ever a time for creative tactics, this is it. In this economy, job search is a new game. And it requires high energy. No two searches are alike, and the same methods don’t work for everyone. If you’re finding yourself at a standstill with your meter on empty, here are some ideas that may help you recharge, refocus and stay in the game.
1) Go to places where you “like” to be, not “need” to be. Introduce yourself to two new people.
2) Barter with neighbors. This is the, “I’ll clean your gutters for two good job lead contacts” approach. Barter with a company. Give away your service in exchange for training on software, a portfolio builder, or a recommendation.
3) Start a neighborhood walking network – get in shape, share ideas, stories and job leads.
4) Find contacts at weddings, campgrounds, the PTA, sporting events, YMCA or the beach.
5) Start a blog to gain exposure. Post about what you love, or what you do.
6) Relocate…your brain. Whether you’d consider moving or not, pick any city and write down the tasks or decisions it would take to move there. Could it happen?
7) Go to a restaurant and strike up a conversation with someone who is eating alone. Or for a twist: “overhear” a conversation at a gathering place (Starbucks, the sidewalk hotdog stand, etc.) then tactfully and professionally offer your business card and a solution.
8) Take a road trip. Sometimes you need a break from the search, but keep your resume handy.
9) Go to your local bookstore. After browsing the business and magazine sections, pick out a book on a topic you normally wouldn’t read and settle into a comfy chair. Find new experts.
10) How many people did you meet this week? Give yourself a new goal each month.
11) Start a pot luck dinner club with other job seekers, or just a support group without the dinner.
12) Take a class – any class will do. Outside of your expertise…even better!
13) Draw your ideal job. Do it big, in color, on flip chart or wrapping paper. What will it look like?
14) Create a collage of pictures of what you enjoy in life and use it to motivate you.
15) Get off the computer and the job boards. Move around to stay motivated. Get up, walk the block, go to a park, a store, a gym, or a theater. Listen to music, draw, write in a journal, go to a gallery. New experiences generate new ideas, and they don’t have to cost you anything. Engage all of your senses. Devote time to play.
16) Build something. Isn’t there an old adage about idle hands/idle minds?
17) Feed your network. Do something nice for those closest to you without the expectation of a returned favor. Small gestures, cards, news articles, or referrals, keep a relationship current.
18) Volunteer locally. Pick any type of work, or select an opportunity to showcase your best professional skills. Either can lead to personal satisfaction, future employment, a referral or new contacts.
What creative ideas have worked for you during a job search?
