Creative Ways to Show Your Worth

Fighting for visibility in an overcrowded job market quickly drains your enthusiasm and makes you more likely to pursue positions out of desperation, rather than passion. Instead of exhausting yourself with no results, devise a creative marketing plan to get your name in front of job recruiters. Take a lesson from Miriam Schembari, who used a $6 targeted Facebook ad to land a contract position with HarperCollins, and let recruiters know what you’re worth.

Refine Your Targets

The traditional approach of sending out resumes limits your control over who sees your application and where it ends up. When submitted through normal channels, your resume is easy for job recruiters to ignore, so look for an alternative method to grab attention and accelerate the hiring process. In the case of Miriam Schembari, a HarperCollins blogger reposted links to her resume with the title ”Why don't we hire more people like this?” Whenever possible, choose an approach that highlights your job-specific skills or demonstrates your inventive attitude, such as designing interactive business cards or renting a billboard.

Spread Your Brand Message

Job recruiters look for validation of your character and abilities, so take ownership of your online reputation, and present a unified brand across all media. Show your authority, communication skills and marketing potential by publishing a blog. The goal isn’t to flood the Internet with filler content but to pick informative, buzz-worthy topics that motivate high-profile companies to spotlight and share your content.

Position yourself as an industry expert, and blog about the impressive accomplishments of your target employers or your ideas for tackling relevant industry problems. Seek out opportunities to partner with other popular bloggers and marketers, and give employers an example of how you interact with others by offering advice and networking on industry forums and online communities. You never know who may be following your work and singing your praises to job recruiters.

Experiment with Creative Media

As a fairly static medium, paper isn't always the most effective option for delivering a dynamic resume, especially when employers rely on software to screen candidates. Infographic resumes are gaining popularity in technology and creative fields where job recruiters are attracted to candidates with superior design skills and an imaginative aesthetic. The vibrant imagery and multifaceted layout guide hiring managers through each section of your resume, letting you quickly share your personal story.

Another option is to film a short video biography or marketing promotion. Aim to keep your video under five minutes, and avoid a straightforward monologue. Illustrate how you perform in your ideal work environment, or offer job recruiters a glimpse of the inspiration and creative processes behind the projects in your portfolio.

If you're serious about landing a fulfilling job, be prepared to go a step further than the competition. Treat your job search like a marketing plan, and make your brand valuable to job recruiters by packaging your skills, experience and interests as one engaging, cohesive product.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net