Consider less obvious employers

When you're looking for a job, the natural thing is to think of the employers who are most likely to use your services. A Plumber works for a plumbing company, and computer programmer workd for an IT services company, a trainer works for a training company.

These are the obvious.

But when you can't find work with the obvious, or even before trying the obvious, take a look at the less obvious.

An IT guy can work for just about any company. If the company is small, he may work for 2 or more companies.

Any large institution needs all types of maintenance, including a plumber. Industrial plants need plumbers. Hospitals need plumbers. So do hotels.

And training ... government have trainer positions, many organizations use facilitators on a regular basis, that that is just another form of training. With people requiring retraining to find work these days, trainers/ facilitators are in high demand.

These are just a few suggestions. I'm sure you could come up with many more for these 3 jobs.

The point is that whatever your job, you can find work in the unlikeliest places.

So try this exercise.

Look in the yellow pages. I know - no-one reads the yellow pages any more, we all "Google" the company we want on the computer. But for this exercise, use the yellow pages.

Look at the index, and as you read down the list of the various types of companies consider how this industry might use your skills. If you think it's possible, go to the section listed in the index, and read the actual companies. Look at the ads. Consider, again, how could I fit with this company.

When you find something that might work, go to webpages as well as reading the yellow pages ads, and find out more about the companies, what they do, what they want, how they operate.

Work out for yourself how you fit, because when you contact the employer (which is the next step) YOU will have to be able to show him how you fit into this company and industry. He will probably not "do the math" and work it out himself.

Example: I am a Career Counsellor. Once, looking for a fill-in job for a while, I applied for a job as a weight loss consultant. How is this a fit (especially since I had never been on a diet)?

As I told the manager when she interviewed me, in career counselling people come to me with a problem (in this case, they need a job), I have the knowledge to help them, I am willing to listen and encourage. I support them in their transition.

As a weight loss consultant people come to you with a problem (in this case they want to lose weight), I (the job ad said they would train me) have the knowledge to help them, I am willing to listen and encourage. I support them in their transition.

The only difference is the type of knowledge I need. It's the same job. The manager nodded at my explanation and hired me.

So take time to think out where your skills, experience and training fit that is not the obvious. Then take the time to think it through so you have a viable, convincing argument for why you'd be good in this job. Your cover letter is a good place to write that, or face to face on "cold call".

In tougher times, creativity is the name of the game.

Looking for more job search help?
.