If you’re looking for a job right now, join the club.

Whether you’re returning to work or you are one of the millions of people out of work, the jobs are few and far between. That doesn’t mean that the jobs aren’t out there though. What that means for you is that you’re going to need to pull out all the stops and put all your resources together to get the job you want.

An interesting article, Job Search: Creativity, Clarity, Competence and Contacts by Karen Alphonse at Execsearches.com outlines in great detail the elements you should have in order to find the job that’s right for you.

One of those elements is creativity. Karen focuses on using creativity in your resume by using a different resume form than one you might typically use. She also calls for “figuring out which growth industries are likely to need your skills.” Great tip indeed! I’ve always thought that taking a look at where you can do the most good or gain the most from your job is essential to getting connected with the right kind of job.

Of course there are other ways to get creative in your not-for-profit job search. An article at careerbuilder.com outlines some examples of unusual job search tactics. While I don’t think that all of these would apply to the non-profit job seeker, it’s important to note that no matter what kind of job you’re looking for; creativity is going to have to be a part of your search. Employers and recruiters have been flooded with the usual cover letter and resume. In the current job market that we’re in, it’s not only in your best interest to get creative but it’s almost a necessity.

Let’s look at it from an employer standpoint: Your inbox is flooded with resumes. After a while they all seem to run together and look alike. Employers at this stage in the job hunting game, want someone who WANTS the job. They are looking to be wowed by someone who’s not afraid to stand out in a crowd.

Does this mean that employers are requiring you to perform song or tapdance to get noticed? Absolutley not. Being a professional still reigns over making a fool of yourself. However, ingenuity and a real desire to get the job you’re after need to work hand in hand in order to be noticed in a crowd of a hundred resumes.