Today’s job market is tough.  We’re all painfully aware of this fact.  In a previous post I spoke about selling yourself and thinking differently when conducting a job search.    Now, more than ever, it’s essential to leverage your network and to use your creativity to get noticed.

One way people are beginning to make an impact with employers is through the use of new technology.  Most notably – Social Media.

Recently, I stumbled upon a remarkable woman named Susan Villas Lewis.  She’s given new meaning to the phrase “job search”.  Susan reports that she was in a “dip” career wise and was looking for something new and special.  So she set out on her own personal career quest and identified key markets she needed to reach with impact.  Susan needed to find the decisions makers and the “connectors” within her industry who could help launch her in the right direction.  So what did she do?  She created a Resume Blog.  Resume Blogs are relatively new and they’re generating a lot of interest and discussion.  Take a look at Susan’s resume blog to get an idea of just how creative and powerful they can be.

http://main.susanhiresaboss.com/

When you arrive at Susan’s homepage it’s pretty clear that this site is unique and special.  Her resume blog makes her instantly memorable and has helped introduce her to some pretty amazing people within her field.  This, in turn, has led to some fantastic business opportunities.

I’m not saying you should set up a site identical to Susan’s.  In all actuality, it wouldn’t make sense to do such a thing.   Her aggressive approach and unique take on things might backfire on you.  But it works for her precisely because the blog is authentically hers.  It’s powerful because it is genuine and creative.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if you and I decided to put our own unique mental health twist to this new job search medium?  Perhaps our resume blog would show a unique vision for mental health treatment or offer readers our own interesting insights, resources, or research.  Our resume blog might even brag a little about past accomplishments, offering references and endorsements from past organizational leaders.

Resume Blogs can be powerful marketing vehicles that help you stand out during a competitive job search campaign.   Imagine a first round of interviews where hiring managers ask candidates a series of questions based on their resumes.  But you didn’t just send a resume to earn your interview.  You also chose to send a link to your resume blog that was packed with useful and substantial information.  This fact would lead to a much more engaging and interesting discussion during the interview.  The hiring manager might ask about some of the interesting articles and position papers you wrote and posted on your site.  Or he/she might decide to talk about the initiative, problem solving and creativity you clearly displayed by creating the website in the first place!

If you’re looking for impact, sometimes you’ve got to approach things in a different manner.  Susan Villas Lewis took a chance and it paid off in a big way.  What chances are you willing to take?