Today’s job climate demands one to be different in order to stand out from the crowd. Being different is absolutely KEY and it means you must be creative.  Below are 4 creative ideas to help get you thinking about approaches to get you in the door to your next gig. Remember, once you get in the door – keep the creativity coming! This could mean asking the hiring manager to have your interview over lunch, or even a beer after work. Use your own ideas – just remember to be different and stand out!

1. Send a business Improvement Idea

This could be anything – something on operations efficiency for their industry; a super clever marketing ad they could consider; a new product idea; even a lucrative referral. Add this to your cover letter with a note saying “Give me ten minutes and I can explain how this could add to your bottom line”.  There are many ways you can approach this – 1, setting the hook by revealing just enough to get their interest, or 2, sharing full details and letting them know that those ideas are just the beginning.  If that doesn’t get you in the door, keep it going. Follow up the next week detailing your previous ideas while adding a Part II. Chances are good that they will have already discussed your ideas and will be hungry for more.

2. Advertise to Your Target Companies

Pardee, 22 of Lakeview, built some self-promotional Facebook ads to target Conde Nast employees. He got the job.  Things are also looking positive for Mark Heuer of Milwaukee after he created a web site Mark4Hire.com then marketed it via billboard. People are even known to advertise with signs at stop-lights or in front of target corporation headquarters. Be creative and try something new – the world is changing and it means you need to compete more for that next job.

3. Offer a Finders Fee

Offering a finders fee can help motivate your network to help you land your next job. Michael Checkoway used his public relations expertise to craft a finder’s fee based on the salary of next job. He even offered trips to Cabo San Lucas, Las Vegas, and New York to grab attention as a grand prize. He then put a website together that outlined the details which were more than generous – asking only for leads and referrals.

4. Create Something Viral

This is something companies do to create stealth marketing campaigns for brand awareness or other marketing objectives. These techniques use pre-existing social networks such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or even chain emails and can take the form of funny videos, images, games etc. Jeremy Hunt and Bruce Branit were widely known as the first to use this medium for success with their 3 minute digital short movie ‘405’. Following the films launch, Hunt and Branit saw their lives turned upside down by the media attention that followed. They were signed by talent agents CAA, offered directing deals, and now sell merchandise related to the film. Be creative – be yourself – just remember to tag your viral with your website or contact details!

Follow the guidelines below and you will have a 30-second pitch that will guarantee that your listeners know what you do, how you can help them and what you want from them. This can be used for your business ideas as well.

What is an Elevator Speech?: An elevator speech is a term taken from the early days of the internet explosion when web development companies needed venture capital. Finance firms were swamped with applications for money and the companies that won the cash were often those that had a simple pitch. (more…)

You may not be asked all these questions, but the probability is pretty high that you will be asked some of them. They are listed in order of frequency with number 1 being the most frequently asked question.Always have these questions answered before you go in for the interview.

Tell me about yourself.
Practice this one because it falls into that vital first three minutes when many interviewers make their decision about you as a candidate. Focus your answer on business no personal examples. Give the interviewer a precise outline of your business experience and skills, no longer than two minutes.

Why did you leave your last job? (or why are you leaving)
Good answers are: downsizing, merger, job eliminated due to restructuring
Dangerous answers include: disagreement with management style of boss; new boss brought in his/her own people; need to broaden experience

What are your strengths?
Here is your opportunity to score points, especially for the things that are difficult to indicate on a resume alone. List your real strengths, not the superficial ones like I’m good with customers or I have good organizational skills.

Good example: I have the ability to accurately identify the skills and talents of my staff and utilize those skills effectively to achieve the objectives of my department.

What are your weaknesses?
Avoid answers that switch a negative to a positive. Never admit a significant weakness like, I get impatient with procrastinators because I always get the job done on time Better to say I have some weaknesses, but none that would effect my ability to do this job well.

What can you do for us?
We have this problem here……How would you solve this problem for us?
What changes would you make if you came on board?
Be very careful answering these questions. Unless you are totally familiar with the job requirements and understand the nature of the industry and what the company needs, this is one can be a question to try and trap you into giving an answer that doesn’t make sense. The safest approach is to give a firm answer as follows:

I can’t give you a definitive answer until I join your team and gain a thorough understanding of all the relevant information and problems. However, I can give you an example of a similar situation that I successfully resolved for one of my previous employers.

What salary are you looking for?
Try to delay answering this question for as long as possible. A good way is to reverse the question. I have not given much thought to the salary aspect. What is the salary range for this position? Remember that answering with a low expectation could deprive you of substantial income and an answer that is too high could disqualify you from consideration.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Avoid answers like: I would hope to have your job by then! or I hope to be running my own business by then. Employers want to hear that you will be a loyal employee who will grow within their organization.

Are you willing to relocate?
The best answer for this question is Yes! If the opportunity is right.

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