I know a lot about getting jobs, having gotten a whole bunch of them. Maybe I'm not the best, but I'm pretty darn good.

Seeking a job is like any other competitive endeavor: (S)he with the best strategy often wins, but only with proper tactical execution.

While there are only a few effective job search strategies, an almost unlimited number of tactics can be deployed to execute them. Dozens of the best of these tactics are worthy of individual blog posts; therefore, I'll focus on four general strategies.

Four basic job search strategies:

• Play the numbers game. Apply for every job you see online all day long. Call every number in your address book. Chances are, if you spray hundreds or thousands of resumes out there, one of them will land in the right hands at some point. (Tactical point: First get your resume in good shape. A crappy resume won't get you noticed no matter how many decision makers see it.) The down side of this strategy is that you might be missing opportunities that are right under your nose as you shoot your resume off into the ether over and over again.
• Network. This is a quality play rather than a quantity play. Get some business cards and get out and meet people every chance you get. This is the most effective strategy if you're looking for a high-paying job. The down side is that it can be expensive to network. You end up buying coffee, event tickets, and the like.
• Make a "try before you buy" offer. This falls somewhere in the gray area between strategy and tactics, but I'm going to say it's a strategy if you design a "marketing campaign" around it. It works, too! One of the best jobs I ever had came about this way. I knew I would succeed if given the chance, and I knew that they probably had candidates who were more qualified. So I said that in those words, then I offered to work for free for the first two weeks and take the lowest pay on the scale if they would give me a shot. They hired me on the spot, and I didn't even have to work for free. A lot of tactics can be deployed in working this strategy. You don't need to get to the interview stage to make the offer. Be creative! The down side of this strategy is that, if successful, you might actually end up putting your money where your mouth is.
• Create your own job. Look to your hobbies for the answer. Like to cook? Maybe you could open a burrito cart. (Hey, you have to start somewhere and in NYC those guys often make six figures.) Almost any hobby can become a money-maker. If you are willing to hustle and shamelessly self-promote, you might just end up creating a job not only for yourself but for others. The down side to this strategy is that you have to go all in on it. You won't have a lot of time to attend networking events or apply for jobs if you're trying to get a business off the ground.

Choose a strategy, then develop and execute the tactics that will make it succeed. You will get a job eventually. I guarantee it.

Looking for a job?