OK, I know what you are going to say. This is an expensive option. Wrong! I have hosted a cocktail party for 15 people and only spent $60. All you need is a free room and then purchase some appetizers and wine at the grocery store yourself. I found that people always ate less than I expected as well, especially if you are inviting women.

You can also ask people to just pay for their own dinners because to have met a good group to network with is totally worth it to them. I asked 8 people to a lunch one time and they all came and paid for themselves. I just told them ahead of time that was the deal so everyone was prepared with their credit card. Just try it. You never know until you try! Just remember that every dime you spend is going to be worth it in the end.

Sometimes it is also a mindset block. Make sure you change your mindset from, “This is going to be hard and expensive!” to “This is going to be a blast!”

In today’s highly competitive job market, creating the right video resume to accompany your traditional resume can make you stand out from the crowd and lead to job opportunities.

The whole point of a video presentation is to offer a potential employer greater insight into you than a traditional resume can, so just reading aloud the contents of your resume is a waste of everyone’s time.

Use the video to help the employer get a sense of not just what you have achieved, but what you are capable of achieving in the future. Tell them why you would be the right person to hire and what you can do for them. You can use your phone or just the camera on your laptop. Keep your video resume short. Stay within 2 minutes and remember to stay classy. Be creative, but professional. Do not deviate too much from the demeanor you would have in the workplace. Dress professionally, just as if you are going to an in-person interview. And make sure it passes the share test. You never know it could go viral. Imagine your friends and family watching the clip. If the thought of that embarrasses you, then don’t submit it.

Strategy 6: Call or walk into your dream company and introduce yourself.

This idea actually worked for one of my friends, Kat, who got a job offer as an Associate Marketing Director. She was extremely interested when she found out about the job opening, she submitted her resume online. A couple of days later she kept thinking about the job and she realized she probably wasn’t going to get the job because she didn’t have marketing experience and she didn’t tailor her resume to the job. So she called up the company and told them she was very interested. She also knew she needed to think outside the box so she ended up researching the company a little more. After she finished tailoring and improving her resume the second time and did exactly what I teach, she printed out her resume, walked right into the front desk and had an impromptu interview. She handed her resume to the marketing manager and told her she was very interested in the position and then gave her pitch about why she thought she was a good fit for the position in person. After that, she got an email from the marketing manager who said she really liked her initiative and she asked her to come onboard as the intern. That was in October and by December they offered her a full time job as Associate Marketing Manager.

So just by walking in and turning in her resume in paper and meeting the hiring manager in person is how my friend, Kat, stood out from the competition. Now, I am not saying this always works but it is definitely something to have in your toolbox especially if you are applying at a smaller company that encourages creative thinking and innovation. It’s all about standing out and being different.

What strategy will you use to find new job opportunities?