6 Unique Job Search Tactics to Try

6 Unique Job Search Tactics to Try6 Unique Job Search Tactics to TryIn the high-stakes competitive sport that is job hunting, how do you get a leg up on your competition?Sometimes, the best approach is for a job seeker to think outside of the box and try some unique job search tactics.So even if youve targeted your career market, your job skills are up-to-par, your resume sparkles, and your interviewing know-how is spot-on, it might still leid be enough. Thats where creative job search tactics can come in handy.Take a look at these six unique job search tactics to try1. Get visual.Not all applications have to be of the printed paper resume and cover letter variety. Especially if youre in a visual field, like photography or design, whip up the best possible presentation of your career accomplishments and put it online. You can have a personal website or a digital portfolio that you can refer employers to, andn be sure to post your work on social media sites to show (rather than tell) what youre truly capable of achieving.2. Network creatively.Networking events are great- except that everyone there is looking to land their next job. Beat out the competition and learn how to network anywhere- and everywhere you go. That lady on line in front of you at your local home improvement store just might know a staffer at the company youre dying to work for. So treat any interaction with someone as a potential networking opportunity. That said, you shouldnt skip out on traditional networking events either, but include some like Meetups, Google hangouts, and alumni groups, too.3. Work for free- sort of.Sure, you need a paying job, but sometimes doing a little pro bono work (especially if it can get your foot in the door) isnt always a badeanstalt thing. If you really want to work at one particular company- and you havent heard back from the employer yet- why not show them that youre the one to hire? For example, you might create a Powerpoint presentation showing them some o f their pain points- and how youd solve them. Or if the company has a slumping social media presence, use your own social media channels to connect with them how you can boost their numbers. While it might appear to be doing work for free to some, what youre actually doing is staging your own audition for the job that shows what you really can do4. Start self-promoting.Self-promotion often gets a bad rap, because most people associate it with bragging. But done correctly, self-promotion can be a more aggressive way to grab a potential employers attention. Send out a professional Twitter bioor a Twesume (a.k.a. a Twitter resume), marketing yourself, your education, your experience, your specific career field, and even the company youd like to work for. Have other professionals vouch for your work ethic and post their replies on your social media channels.5. Make a match with a mentor.At some point in their job search, everyone can use a little career guidance. And thats where a mento r comes in. Work to find a mentor whose accomplishments you sincerely admire and whom you feel could be an integral part to your job search success. But having a mentor is a two-way street- be sure that you can also offer something in return for your mentors investment of time and energy. You can also consider approaching that person for an externship- spending a few days or more shadowing them to learn more about what they do.6. Be sure to follow-up.Although it might not seem all that unique, a good old-fashioned follow up can go a long way in making you a stand-out job candidate. When you have an interview or other meeting, make your follow-up contact more than just a perfunctory thank you for your time. Instead, cite specific advice or moments in the conversation that were useful to you or shed some insight. That makes you a much more memorable job candidateBrowse Open Flexible JobsJennifer Parris contributed to this post.